3. International Claims Settlement Acts

1

a. International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended 1

Public Law 81-455 [H.R. 4406], 64 Stat. 12, approved March 10, 1950, as amended by Public Law 83-242 [H.R. 5742], 67 Stat. 506, approved August 8, 1953; Reorganization Plan No. 1, effective July 1, 1954, 19 F.R. 3985, 68 Stat. 1279; Public Law 84-285 [H.R. 6382], 69 Stat. 562, approved August 9, 1955; Public Law 85-604 [S. 3557], 72 Stat. 527, approved August 8, 1958; Public Law 85-791 [H.R. 6788], 72 Stat. 941 at 951, approved August 28, 1958; Public Law 88-666 [H.R. 12259], 78 Stat. 1110, approved October 16, 1964; Public Law 89-559 [H.R. 10104], 80 Stat. 378 at 656, approved November 6, 1966; Public Law 90-421 [H.R. 9063], 82 Stat. 420, approved July 4, 1968; Public Law 91-167 [H.R. 11711], 83 Stat. 435, approved December 24, 1969; Public Law 93-460 [H.R. 13261], 88 Stat. 1386, approved October 20, 1974; and by Public Law 94-542 [S. 3621], 90 Stat. 2509, approved October 18, 1976.

AN ACT To provide for the settlement of certain claims of the Government of the United States on its own behalf and on behalf of American nationals against foreign governments.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "International Claims Settlement Act of 1949".

TITLE I2

SEC. 2. For the purposes of this Title

(a) The term "person" shall include an individual, partnership, corporation, or the Government of the United States.

(b) The term "United States" when used in a geographical sense shall include the United States, its Territories and insular possessions, and the Canal Zone.

(c) The term "nationals of the United States" includes (1) persons who are citizens of the United States, and (2) persons who, though not citizens of the United States, owe permanent allegiance to the United States. It does not include aliens.

(d) The term "Yugoslav Claims Agreement of 1948" means the agreements between the Governments of the United States of America and of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia regarding pecuniary claims of the United States and its nationals, signed July 19, 1948.

SEC. 3. (a) [Repealed by Public Law 89-554, (80 Stat. 378 at 656; 22 U.S.C. 1622 (a))3.]

(b) [Repealed by Public Law 89-554 (80 Stat. 378 at 656; 22 U.S.C. 1622 (b)).3]

(c) The Commission may prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to enable it to carry out its functions, and may

122 U.S.C. 1621-1643k.

2 Designated "Title 1" by Public Law 84-285, approved August 9, 1955.

The International Claims Commission was abolished and its functions were transferred to the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States by Reorganiza(Continued)

delegate functions to any member, officer, or employee of the Commission. The President may fix a termination date for the authority of the Commission, and the terms of office of its members under this Title. Any member of the Commission may be removed by the Secretary of State, upon notice and hearing, for neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause. Not later than six months after its organization, and every six months thereafter, the Commission shall make a report, through the Secretary of State, to the Congress concerning its operations under this Title. The Commission shall, upon completion of its work, certify in duplicate to the Secretary of State and to the Secretary of the Treasury the following: (1) A list of all claims disallowed; (2) a list of all claims allowed, ini whole or in part, together with the amount of each claim and the amount awarded thereon; and (3) a copy of the decision rendered in each case. No members of such Commission shall be appointed after the effective date of this Title until such Commission is reorganized by further Act of Congress but acting members may be designated by the President as provided by this section, who shall receive no compensation from the funds appropriated by H.R. 6200 for defraying the expenses of such Commission.5

SEC. 4. (a) The Commission shall have jurisdiction to receive. examine, adjudicate, and render final decisions with respect to claims of the Government of the United States and of nationals of the United States included within the terms of the Yugoslav Claims Agreement of 1948, or included within the terms of any claims agreement hereafter concluded between the Government of the United States and a foreign government (exclusive of governments against which the United States declared the existence of a state of war during World War II) similarly providing for the settlement and discharge of claims of the Government of the United States and of nationals of the United States against a foreign government, arising out of the nationalization or other taking of property, by the agreement of the Government of the United States to accept from that government a sum in en bloc settlement thereof. In the decision of claims under this Title, the Commission shall apply the following in the following order: (1) The provisions of the applicable claims agreement as provided in this subsection; and (2) the applicable principles of international law, justice, and equity.

(b) The Commission shall give public notice of the time when, and the limit of time within which, claims may be filed, which notice shall

(Continued)

tion Plan No. 1, 1954, effective July 1, 1954, 19 F.R. 3985, 68 Stat. 1279. Section 1 of Reorganization Plan No. 1 read:

"FOREIGN CLAIMS SETTLEMENT COMMISSION OF THE UNITED STATES "SECTION 1. Establishment of Commission. There is hereby established the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States, hereinafter referred to as the Commission. The Commission shall be composed of three members, who shall each be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, hold office during the pleasure of the President, and receive compensation at the rate of $15,000 per annum. The President shall from time to time designate one of the members of the Commission as the Chairman of the Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Chairman. Two members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the Commission."

The functions of the Secretary of State under these sentences were abolished and transferred to the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission by Reorganization Plan No. 1, 1954. Public Law 89-348 (79 Stat. 1310) modified this reporting requirement from semiannual to annual submission.

H.R. 6200 is the Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1954, Act of Aug. 7, 1953, 67 Stat. 418.

be published in the Federal Register. In addition, the Commission is authorized and directed to mail a similar notice to the last-known address of each person appearing in the records of the Department of State as having indicated an intention of filing a claim with respect to a matter concerning which the Commission has jurisdiction under this Title. All decisions shall be upon such evidence and written legal contentions as may be presented within such period as may be prescribed therefor by the Commission, and upon the results of any independent investigation of cases which the Commission may deem it advisable to make. Each decision by the Commission pursuant to this Title shall be by majority vote, and shall state the reason for such decision, and shall constitute a full and final disposition of the case in which the decision is rendered.

(c) Any member of the Commission, or any employee of the Commission, designated in writing by the Chairman of the Commission, may administer oaths and examine witnesses. Any member of the Commission may require by subpena the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and the production of all necessary books, papers, documents, records, correspondence, and other evidence, from any place in the United States at any designated place of inquiry or of hearing. The Commission is authorized to contract for the reporting of inquiries or of hearings. Witnesses summoned before the Commission shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States. In case of disobedience to a subpena, the aid of any district court of the United States, as constituted by chapter 5 of title 28, United States Code (28 U.S.C. 81 and the following), and the United States court of any Territory or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States may be invoked in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of such books, papers, documents, records, correspondence, and other evidence. Any such court within the jurisdiction of which the inquiry or hearing is carried on may, in case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpena issued to any person, issue an order requiring such person to appear or to give evidence touching the matter in question; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.

(d) The Commission may order testimony to be taken by deposition in any inquiry or hearing pending before it at any stage of such proceeding or hearing. Such depositions may be taken, under such regulations as the Commission may prescribe, before any person designated by the Commission and having power to administer oaths. Any person may be compelled to appear and depose, and to produce books, papers, documents, records, correspondence, and other evidence in the same way as witnesses may be compelled to appear and testify and produce documentary evidence before the Commission, as hereinabove provided. If a witness whose testimony may be desired to be taken by deposition be in a foreign country, the deposition may be taken, provided the laws of the foreign country so permit, by a consular officer, or by an officer or employee of the Commission, or other person commissioned by the Commission, or under letter rogatory issued by the Commission. Witnesses whose depositions are taken as authorized in this subsection, and the persons taking the same, shall

severally be entitled to the same fees as are paid for like services in the courts of the United States.

(e) In addition to the penalties provided in title 18, United States Code, section 1001, any person guilty of any act, as provided therein, with respect to any matter under this Title, shall forfeit all rights under this Title, and, if payment shall have been made or granted, the Commission shall take such action as may be necessary to recover the same.

(f) No remuneration on account of services rendered on behalf of any claimant in connection with any claim filed with the Commission under this title shall exceed 10 per centum of the total amount paid pursuant to any award certified under the provisions of this title, on account of such claim. Any agreement to the contrary shall be unlawful and void. Whoever, in the United States or elsewhere, demands or receives, on account of services so rendered, any remuneration in excess of the maximum permitted by this section, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than twelve months, or both.

(g) The Attorney General shall assign such officers and employees of the Department of Justice as may be necessary to represent the United States as to any claims of the Government of the United States with respect to which the Commission has jurisdiction under this title. Any and all payments required to be made by the Secretary of the Treasury under this title pursuant to any award made by the Commission to the Government of the United States shall be covered into the Treasury to the credit of miscellaneous receipts.

(h) The Commission shall notify all claimants of the approval or denial of their claims, stating the reasons and grounds therefor, and, if approved, shall notify such claimants of the amount for which such claims are approved. Any claimant whose claim is denied, or is approved for less than the full amount of such claim, shall be entitled. under such regulations as the Commission may prescribe, to a hearing before the Commission, or its duly authorized representatives, with respect to such claim. Upon such hearing, the Commission may affirm. modify, or revise its former action with respect to such claim, including a denial or reduction in the amount theretofore allowed with respect to such claim. The action of the Commission in allowing or

Subsection (f) is stated as amended by sec. 1 of Public Law 90-421 (82 Stat. 420), approved July 24, 1968. It formerly read as follows:

"In connection with any claim decided by the Commission pursuant to this Title in which an award is made, the Commission may, upon the written request of the claimant or any attorney heretofore or hereafter employed by such claimant, determine and appor tion the just and reasonable attorney's fees for services rendered with respect to such claim, but the total amount of the fees so determined in any case shall not exceed 10 per centum of the total amount paid pursuant to the award. Written evidence that the claimant and any such attorney have agreed to the amount of the attorney's fees shall be conclusive upon the Commission: Provided, however, That the total amount of the fees so agreed upon does not exceed 10 per centum of the total amount paid pursuant to the award. Any fee so determined shall be entered as a part of such award, and payment thereof shall be made by the Secretary of the Treasury by deducting the amount thereof from the total amount paid pursuant to the award. Any agreement to the contrary shall be unlawful and void. The Commission is authorized and directed to mail to each claimant in proceedings before the Commission notice of the provisions of this subsection. Whoever, in the United States or elsewhere, pays or offers to pay, or promises to pay, or receives on account of services rendered or to be rendered in connection with any such claim, compensenation which. when added to any amount previously paid on account of such services, will exceed the amount of fees so determined by the Commission, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $5.000 or imprisoned not more than twelve months, or both, and if any such payment shall have been made or granted. the Commission shall take such action as may be necessary to recover the same, and, in addition thereto, any such person shall forfeit all rights under this title."

denying any claim under this title shall be final and conclusive on all questions of law and fact and not subject to review by the Secretary of State or any other official, department, agency, or establishment of the United States or by any court by mandamus or otherwise.

(i) The Commission may in its discretion enter an award with respect to one or more items deemed to have been clearly established in an individual claim while deferring consideration and action on other items of the same claim.

(j) The Commission shall comply with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act of 1946 except as otherwise specifically provided by this title.

SEC. 5. The Commission shall, as soon as possible, and in the order of the making of such awards, certify to the Secretary of the Treasury and to the Secretary of State copies of the awards made in favor of the Government of the United States or of nationals of the United States under this Title. The Commission shall certify to the Secretary of State, upon his request, copies of the formal submissions of claims filed pursuant to subsection (b) of section 4 of this Act for transmission to the foreign government concerned.

SEC. 6. The Commission shall complete its affairs in connection with settlement of United States-Yugoslav claims arising under the Yugoslav Claims Agreement of 1948 not later than December 31, 1954; Provided, That nothing in this provision shall be construed to limit the life of the Commission, or its authority to act on future agreements which may be affected under the provisions of this legislation.

SEC. 7. (a) Subject to the limitations hereinafter provided, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to pay, as prescribed by section 8 of this Title, an amount not exceeding the principal of each award, plus accrued interests on such awards as bear interest, certified pursuant to section 5 of this Title, in accordance with the award. Such payments, and applications for such payments, shall be made in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe.

(b) (1) There shall be deducted from the amount of each payment made pursuant to subsection (c) of section 8, as reimbursement for the expenses incurred by the United States, an amount equal to 5o per centum of such payment. All amounts so deducted shall be covered into the Treasury to the credit of miscellaneous receipts.

(2) 10 The Secretary of the Treasury shall deduct from any amounts covered, subsequent to the date of enactment of this paragraph, into any special fund, created pursuant to section 8, 5 per centum thereof as reimbursement to the Government of the United States for expenses incurred by the Commission and by the Treasury Department in the administration of this title. The amounts so deducted shall be covered into the Treasury to the credit of miscellaneous receipts.

(c) Payments made pursant to this Title shall be made only to the person or persons on behalf of whom the award is made, except that

75 U.S.C. 551 et seq.

8 Public Law 83-242, approved August 8. 1953. substituted "December 31. 1954;" for "not more than four years following enactment of this Act:" (March 10, 1956). Public Law 83-242, approved August 8. 1953, substituted "5" for "3".

10 Subsection (b) of Sec. 7 was amended by Sec. 2 of Public Law 90-421 (82 Stat. 420), approved July 24, 1968, by inserting "(1)" after the subsection letter and adding at the end thereof, new paragraph (2).