1. U.S. Code
  2. title 22
  3. chapter 21
  4. subchapter III
  5. § 1641

Collapse to view only § 1641. Definitions

§ 1641. Definitions
As used in this subchapter the term—
(1) “Person” means a natural person, partnership, association, other unincorporated body, corporation, or body politic.
(2) “National of the United States” means (A) a natural person who is a citizen of the United States, or who owes permanent allegiance to the United States, and (B) a corporation or other legal entity which is organized under the laws of the United States, any State or Territory thereof, or the District of Columbia, if natural persons who are nationals of the United States own, directly or indirectly, more than 50 per centum of the outstanding capital stock or other beneficial interest in such legal entity. It does not include aliens.
(3) “Treaty of peace”, with respect to a country, means the treaty of peace with that country signed at Paris, France, February 10, 1947, which came into force between that country and the United States on September 15, 1947.
(4) “Memorandum of Understanding” means the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Italy regarding Italian assets in the United States and certain claims of nationals of the United States, signed at Washington, District of Columbia, August 14, 1947 (61 Stat. 3962).
(5) “Soviet Government” means the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, including any of its present or former constituent republics, other political subdivisions, and any territories thereof, as constituted on or prior to November 16, 1933.
(6) “Litvinov Assignment” means (A) the communication dated November 16, 1933, from Maxim Litvinov to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, wherein the Soviet Government assigned to the Government of the United States amounts admitted or found to be due it as the successor of prior governments of Russia, or otherwise, preparatory to a final settlement of the claims outstanding between the two Governments and the claims of their nationals; (B) the communication dated November 16, 1933, from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Maxim Litvinov, accepting such assignment; and (C) the assignments executed by Serge Ughet on August 25, 1933, and November 15, 1933, assigning certain assets to the Government of the United States.
(7) “Russian national” includes any corporation or business association organized under the laws, decrees, ordinances, or acts of the former Empire of Russia or of any government successor thereto, and subsequently nationalized or dissolved or whose assets were taken over by the Soviet Government or which was merged with any other corporation or organization by the Soviet Government.
(8) “Commission” means the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States, established pursuant to Reorganization Plan Numbered 1 of 1954 (68 Stat. 1279).
(9) “Property” means any property, right, or interest.
(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 301, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 570.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641

§ 1641a. Claims funds
(a) Establishment; coverage into Treasury; deduction
(b) Bulgarian and Rumanian fund
(c) Hungarian fund
(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 302, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 571; amended Pub. L. 90–421, § 1(8), July 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 422; Pub. L. 93–460, § 1(1), Oct. 20, 1974, 88 Stat. 1386.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641a

§ 1641b. Claims of nationals of the United States against Bulgaria, Hungary, and Rumania
The Commission shall receive and determine in accordance with applicable substantive law, including international law, the validity and amounts of claims of nationals of the United States against the Governments of Bulgaria, Hungary, and Rumania, or any of them, arising out of the failure to—
(1) restore or pay compensation for property of nationals of the United States as required by article 23 of the treaty of peace with Bulgaria, articles 26 and 27 of the treaty of peace with Hungary, and articles 24 and 25 of the treaty of peace with Rumania. Awards under this paragraph shall be in amounts not to exceed two-thirds of the loss or damage actually sustained;
(2) pay effective compensation for the nationalization, compulsory liquidation, or other taking, prior to August 9, 1955, of property of nationals of the United States in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Rumania;
(3) meet obligations expressed in currency of the United States arising out of contractual or other rights acquired by nationals of the United States prior to April 24, 1941, in the case of Bulgaria, and prior to September 1, 1939, in the case of Hungary and Rumania, and which became payable prior to September 15, 1947;
(4) pay effective compensation for the nationalization, compulsory liquidation, or other taking of property of nationals of the United States in Bulgaria and Rumania, between August 9, 1955, and the effective date of the claims agreement between the respective country and the United States; and
(5) pay effective compensation for the nationalization, compulsory liquidation, or other taking of property of nationals of the United States in Hungary, between August 9, 1955, and the date the United States-Hungarian Claims Agreement of March 6, 1973, enters into force.
(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 303, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 571; amended Pub. L. 90–421, § 1(9), (10), July 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 422; Pub. L. 93–460, § 1(2), (3), Oct. 20, 1974, 88 Stat. 1386.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641b

§ 1641c. Claims of nationals of the United States against Italy
(a) Claims not provided for in peace treaty
(b) Individuals who fail to file claims
(c) Territory ceded by Italy
(d) Time within which to file; publication in Federal Register
(e) Certification of awards
(f) Transfers from Italian Claims Fund to War Claims Fund
(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 304, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 572; amended Pub. L. 85–604, § 2, Aug. 8, 1958, 72 Stat. 531; Pub. L. 90–421, § 1(11), July 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 422.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641c

§ 1641d. Claims of nationals of the United States against the Soviet Union
(a) Claims prior to November 16, 1933
The Commission shall receive and determine in accordance with applicable substantive law, including international law, the validity and amounts of—
(1) claims of nationals of the United States against a Russian national originally accruing in favor of a national of the United States with respect to which a judgment was entered in, or a warrant of attachment issued from, any court of the United States or of a State of the United States in favor of a national of the United States, with which judgment or warrant of attachment a lien was obtained by a national of the United States, prior to November 16, 1933, upon any property in the United States which has been taken, collected, recovered, or liquidated by the Government of the United States pursuant to the Litvinov Assignment. Awards under this paragraph shall not exceed the proceeds of such property as may have been subject to the lien of the judgment or attachment; nor, in the event that such proceeds are less than the aggregate amount of all valid claims so related to the same property, exceed an amount equal to the proportion which each such claim bears to the total amount of such proceeds; and
(2) claims, arising prior to November 16, 1933, of nationals of the United States against the Soviet Government.
(b) Federal and State court judgments
(c) Preferences
(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 305, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 572.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641d

§ 1641e. Filing of claims; notice in Federal Register
(a) Time period
(b) Property taken in Bulgaria and Rumania
(c) Property taken in Hungary
(d) Failure to receive notice on Hungarian claims
(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 306, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 572; amended Pub. L. 90–421, § 1(12), July 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 423; Pub. L. 93–460, § 1(4), Oct. 20, 1974, 88 Stat. 1386.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641e

§ 1641f. Amount of award

The amount of any award made pursuant to this subchapter based on a claim of a national of the United States other than the national of the United States to whom the claim originally accrued shall not exceed the amount of the actual consideration last paid therefor either prior to January 1, 1953, or between that date and the filing of the claim, whichever is less.

(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 307, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 573.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641f

§ 1641g. Certification of awards

The Commission shall as soon as possible, and in the order of the making of such awards, certify to the Secretary of the Treasury, in terms of United States currency, each award made pursuant to this subchapter.

(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 308, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 573.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641g

§ 1641h. Funds for payment of claims

All payments authorized under this subchapter shall be disbursed exclusively from the claims fund attributable to the country with respect to which the claims are allowed pursuant to this subchapter. All amounts covered into the Treasury to the credit of the claims funds created by section 1641a of this title are hereby permanently appropriated for the making of the payments authorized under this subchapter.

(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 309, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 573.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641h

§ 1641i. Payment of awards
(a) Manner of payment
The Secretary of the Treasury shall make payments on account of awards certified by the Commission pursuant to this subchapter as follows:
(1) Payment in full of the principal amount of each award made pursuant to section 1641d(a)(1) of this title and each award of $1,000 or less made pursuant to section 1641b or 1641c of this title;
(2) Payment in full of the principal amount of each award of $1,000 or less made pursuant to section 1641d(a)(2) of this title;
(3) Payment in the amount of $1,000 on account of the principal of each award of more than $1,000 in amount made pursuant to section 1641b, 1641c, or 1641d(a)(2) of this title;
(4) After completing the payments under the preceding paragraphs of this subsection from any one fund, payments from time to time, in ratable proportions, on account of the then unpaid principal of all awards in the principal amount of more than $1,000, according to the proportions which the unpaid principal of such awards bear to the total amount in the fund available for distribution on account of such awards at the time such payments are made;
(5) After payment has been made in full of the principal amounts of all awards from any one fund, pro rata payments from the remainder of such fund then available for distribution on account of accrued interest on such awards as bear interest;
(6) Whenever the Commission is authorized to settle claims by the enactment of paragraph (4) of section 1641b of this title with respect to Rumania and Bulgaria, no further payments shall be authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury on account of awards certified by the Commission pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section 1641b of this title of the Bulgarian or Rumanian Claims Funds, as the case may be, until payments on account of awards certified pursuant to paragraph (4) of section 1641b of this title with respect to such fund have been authorized in equal proportion to payments previously authorized on existing awards certified pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 1641b of this title.
(7)
(A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (D), whenever the Commission is authorized to settle claims by enactment of paragraph (5) of section 1641b of this title with respect to Hungary, no further payments shall be authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury on account of awards certified by the Commission under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 1641b of this title out of the Hungarian Claims Fund until payments on account of awards certified under paragraph (5) of section 1641b of this title with respect to such fund have been authorized in equal proportions to payments previously authorized on existing awards certified under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 1641b of this title.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (D), with respect to awards previously certified under paragraph (1) of section 1641b of this title, the Secretary of the Treasury shall not authorize any further payments until payments on account of awards certified under paragraphs (2), (3), and (5) of section 1641b of this title have been authorized in equal proportions to payments previously authorized on existing awards certified under paragraph (1) of section 1641b of this title.
(C) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (D), the Secretary of the Treasury shall not authorize any further payments on account of awards certified under paragraph (3) of section 1641b of this title based on Kingdom of Hungary bonds expressed in United States dollars or upon awards to Standstill creditors of Hungary that were the subject matter of the agreement of December 5, 1969, between the Government of Hungary and the American Committee for Standstill creditors of Hungary.
(D) No payments shall be authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury on account of awards certified by the Commission under paragraph (5) of section 1641b of this title, and no further payments shall be so authorized under paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of section 1641b of this title (except payments certified as the result of claims filed under subsection (d) of section 1641e of this title), until payments on account of awards certified under such paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as the result of a claims 1
1 So in original. Probably should be “claim”.
filed under subsection (d) of section 1641e of this title have been authorized in equal proportions to payments previously authorized on existing awards certified under such paragraphs and arising out of claims filed other than under such subsection (d).
(E) The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to deduct the sum of $125,000 from the Hungarian Claims Fund and cover such amount into the Treasury to the credit of miscellaneous receipts in satisfaction of the claim of the United States referred to in article 2, paragraph 4 of the United States-Hungarian Claims Agreement of March 6, 1973. Such amount shall be deducted in annual installments over the period during which the Government of Hungary makes payments to the Government of the United States as provided in article 4 of the agreement.
(b) Regulations
(c) “Award” defined
(d) Consolidated award
(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 310, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 573; amended Pub. L. 90–421, § 1(13), July 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 423; Pub. L. 93–460, § 1(5), Oct. 20, 1974, 88 Stat. 1386.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641i

§ 1641j. Claims by corporations or other legal entities
(a) If a corporation or other legal entity has a claim on which an award may be made under this subchapter, no award may be made to any other person under this subchapter with respect to such claim.
(b) A claim based upon an interest, direct or indirect, in a corporation or other legal entity which directly suffered the loss with respect to which the claim is asserted, but which was not a national of the United States at the time of the loss, shall be acted upon without regard to the nationality of such legal entity if at the time of the loss at least 25 per centum of the outstanding capital stock or other beneficial interest in such entity was owned, directly or indirectly, by natural persons who were nationals of the United States. This subsection shall not be construed so as to exclude from eligibility a claim based upon a direct ownership interest in a corporation, association, or other entity, or the property thereof, for loss by reason of the nationalization, compulsory liquidation, or other taking of such corporation, association, or other entity by the Governments of Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Rumania, or the Soviet Government. Any such claim may be allowed without regard to the per centum of ownership vested in the claimant.
(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 311, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 573; amended Pub. L. 85–604, § 3(a), Aug. 8, 1958, 72 Stat. 531.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641j

§ 1641k. Prohibition against payment of award to collaborators or disloyal persons

No award shall be made under this subchapter to or for the benefit of any person who voluntarily, knowingly, and without duress, gave aid to or collaborated with or in any manner served any government hostile to the United States during World War II, or who has been convicted of a violation of any provision of chapter 115, of title 18, or of any other crime involving disloyalty to the United States.

(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 312, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 574.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641k

§ 1641l. Unpaid balance of claim; claims of United States unaffected

Payment of any award made pursuant to section 1641b or 1641d of this title shall not, unless such payment is for the full amount of the claim, as determined by the Commission to be valid, with respect to which the award is made, extinguish such claim, or be construed to have divested any claimant, or the United States on his behalf, of any rights against the appropriate foreign government or national for the unpaid balance of his claim or for restitution of his property. All awards or payments made pursuant to this subchapter shall be without prejudice to the claims of the United States against any foreign government.

(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 313, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 574.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641l

§ 1641m. Finality of action of Commission

The action of the Commission in allowing or denying any claim under this subchapter shall be final and conclusive on all questions of law and fact and not subject to review by any other official of the United States or by any court by mandamus or otherwise, and the Comptroller General shall allow credit in the accounts of any certifying or disbursing officer for payments in accordance with such action.

(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 314, as added

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641m

§ 1641n. Appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to enable the Commission and the Treasury Department to pay their administrative expenses incurred in carrying out their functions under this subchapter.

(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 315, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 574.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641n

§ 1641o. Time limitation on completion of affairs of Commission
(a) Claims against Russian nationals
(b) Property taken in Bulgaria and Rumania; claims against Italy
(c) Property taken in Hungary
(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 316, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 574; amended Pub. L. 90–421, § 1(14), July 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 423; Pub. L. 93–460, § 1(6), Oct. 20, 1974, 88 Stat. 1387.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641o

§ 1641p. Fees of agents, attorneys, or representatives
(a) Maximum remuneration; penalty for violation
(b) Petition for payment in excess of maximum; determination by Commission not subject to review
(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 317, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 574.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641p

§ 1641q. Applicability of administrative provisions of subchapter I

The following provisions of subchapter I shall be applicable to this subchapter: Subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (h), and (j) of section 1623 of this title; and subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) of section 1626 of this title.

(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title III, § 318, as added Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 645, § 3, 69 Stat. 575.)

CITE AS: 22 USC 1641q