Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Reich, Blaming Laguardia, Backs Down on “black Tom” Pact

April 11, 1937
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

The New York Post said today the German Government is seeking withdrawal of a written agreement to settle the long-fought Black Tom and Kingsland wartime sabotage claims because of Mayor LaGuardia’s “chamber of horrors” speech attacking Chancellor Hitler.

The agreement was filed before the Mixed Claims Commission at Washington several months ago, the Post said, paving the way for repayment of about $20,000,000 to big American and Canadian corporations which suffered great losses in the Black Tom and Kingsland munitions plant holocausts in 1916 and 1917.

After Mayor LaGuardia’s attack on Hitler, Germany sent a note to the State Department representing the settlement agreement as a “preliminary” proceeding and said Germany now wished to cancel it, according to the Post. The note indicated improvement in German-American relations had been hoped for as a result of the agreement, but this hope had not been realized.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement