B-132250, JUL. 2, 1957
Highlights
M. KOENIGIL: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF MAY 21. SUCH AMOUNT WAS DEPOSITED IN A SPECIAL DEPOSIT ACCOUNT IN TRUST FOR THE REPORTED OWNERS. 500 FRENCH FRANCS IS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN PAID TO YOU AS YOUR SHARE OF THE SPECIAL DEPOSIT ACCOUNT. SINCE THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT DEPOSITED BY YOU WAS NOT TURNED OVER TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND YOU WERE UNABLE TO ESTABLISH TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT YOUR RIGHT. YOUR CLAIM WAS DISALLOWED. IS NOT A GUARANTOR THAT ALL FUNDS WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN TURNED OVER TO NAZI OFFICIALS OF GERMANY. YOU HAVE NOT ESTABLISHED YOUR ASSERTED RIGHT AS HEIR TO ANY AMOUNT WHICH MAY REMAIN IN ITS CUSTODY. WAS PROPER AND. MUST BE AND IS SUSTAINED.
B-132250, JUL. 2, 1957
TO MR. M. KOENIGIL:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF MAY 21, 1957, REQUESTING REVIEW OF SETTLEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 1, 1951, OF OUR CLAIMS DIVISION WHICH DISALLOWED YOUR CLAIM FOR REFUND OF CERTAIN FRENCH CURRENCY (OR ITS EQUIVALENT IN DOLLARS) DEPOSITED WITH GERMAN OFFICIALS OF THE VITTEL DISPLACED PERSONS CAMP DURING WORLD WAR II.
A REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE INDICATES THAT ON DECEMBER 15, 1944, THE AMERICAN EMBASSY, PARIS, FRANCE, RECEIVED FROM THE GERMAN COMMANDANT OF THE VITTEL DISPLACED PERSONS CENTER 185,405 FRENCH FRANCS ALLEGEDLY REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 12.4 PERCENT OF THE DEPOSITS MADE WITH HIM BY THE INTERNEES OF THE CAMP WHO CLAIMED AMERICAN NATIONALITY. SUCH AMOUNT WAS DEPOSITED IN A SPECIAL DEPOSIT ACCOUNT IN TRUST FOR THE REPORTED OWNERS. OF THIS SUM, THE AMOUNT OF 3,500 FRENCH FRANCS IS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN PAID TO YOU AS YOUR SHARE OF THE SPECIAL DEPOSIT ACCOUNT. SINCE THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT DEPOSITED BY YOU WAS NOT TURNED OVER TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND YOU WERE UNABLE TO ESTABLISH TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT YOUR RIGHT, AS ALLEGED HEIR OF CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS WHO MADE DEPOSITS WITH THE GERMAN CAMP AUTHORITIES, TO ANY ADDITIONAL AMOUNT IN THE SPECIAL DEPOSIT ACCOUNT, YOUR CLAIM WAS DISALLOWED.
THE UNITED STATES, OF COURSE, IS NOT A GUARANTOR THAT ALL FUNDS WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN TURNED OVER TO NAZI OFFICIALS OF GERMANY, A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT, WOULD BE RETURNED TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS. IT HAS PAID TO YOU THE AMOUNT IT RECEIVED IN TRUST FOR YOU FROM SUCH OFFICIALS. YOU HAVE NOT ESTABLISHED YOUR ASSERTED RIGHT AS HEIR TO ANY AMOUNT WHICH MAY REMAIN IN ITS CUSTODY. IN THE LIGHT OF THE FOREGOING, OUR SETTLEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 1, 1951, WAS PROPER AND, UPON REVIEW, MUST BE AND IS SUSTAINED.
WE HAVE NO INFORMATION RELATIVE TO AMOUNTS YOU SAY WERE DEPOSITED BY DECEASED RELATIVES OF YOURS WITH PRIVATE BANKS, GERMAN OFFICIALS, ETC., AND WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN CONFISCATED BY THE FORMER GERMAN (NAZI) GOVERNMENT AND HENCE CANNOT ADVISE YOU AS TO SUCH MATTERS.