Executive Order 2916

By virtue of the authority vested in me by "An Act to define, regulate, and punish trading with the enemy, and for other purposes," approved October 6, 1917, known as the "Trading With the Enemy Act," as amended by "An Act making appropriations to supply urgent deficiencies in appropriations for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eighteen, and prior fiscal years, on account of war expenses and for other purposes," approved March 28, 1918, I hereby make the following orders, rules and regulations, and determinations.

Definitions.

1. The word "person," as used herein, shall be deemed to mean an individual, partnership, association, company, or other unincorporated body of individuals, or corporation or body politic.
2. The word "enemy," as used herein, shall be deemed to mean either an "enemy" or "ally of enemy," as the case may be.

Powers of Management and Administration, Including Sale or Other Disposition.

The Alien Property Custodian shall have power, and he is authorized and directed, to hold, manage, administer, protect, preserve, control and sell or otherwise dispose of, in accordance with the following rules and regulations, any and all property other than money which has been or shall be conveyed, transferred, assigned, delivered, and/or paid over to him pursuant to the provisions of the Trading With the Enemy Act as amended and the Executive proclamations and orders issued pursuant thereof or which has been or shall be required so to be conveyed, transferred, assigned, delivered and/or paid over to him.

1. The Alien Property Custodian shall have the power and authority to do any and all things reasonable and proper in or about the custody, management, administration, protection, preservation and control of any such property according to the nature and character of the property and the attendant circumstances, including (but without limiting the generality of the foregoing) the power and authority to collect all bills, notes, accounts, dividends, interest, rents, royalties, annuities and other receivables, and income and profits and accumulations and distributions of principal or income; to pay all rents, royalties, interest and other accounts and liens or charges; to make repairs, additions and alterations to property, whether real or personal; to rent, lease or otherwise grant the use or right to use or occupy property of any kind; to insure property against loss, and to cancel or surrender insurance policies and collect return premiums and surrender values, and to do any other act or thing with respect to insurance or insurance policies; to grant by lease, license or otherwise, the right to use or other rights under or in respect of patents, copyrights, trade marks, trade secrets and other similar rights; to vote in person or by proxy shares of block or other beneficial interest in corporations, unincorporated associations, companies or trusts upon any questions at all times and upon all matters upon which any owner of such stock or other beneficial interest shall have the right to vote; including the power and authority to vote for or against and to take part in any sale, dissolution, consolidation, amalgamation or reorganization of any sort, of any such corporation, unincorporated association, company or trust, or of its assets of any part thereof, and to exercise any rights or privileges that may be or become appurtenant to the ownership of such stock or other beneficial interest with like force and effect and under like circumstances in all respects as though the absolute owner thereof, to give any notices and file any papers or writings or any kind, proper or necessary for the creation, perfection, protection, liquidation or otherwise in respect of any claims, demands, choses-in-action or other rights of any kind, and to settle, compromise and adjust claims, demands and choses-in-action; to intervene in any suit or proceeding and to file and maintain claims, demands and suits of all kinds in or before, any court, board, commission or other body; to determine and pay all reasonable and proper expenses incurred in or about or with respect of the exercise of any of the powers and authority vested in the Alien Property Custodian or any depositary for him, including expenses that may be incurred in or about securing possession, custody or control of any such property, and including also taxes and other charges heretofore or hereafter lawfully assessed upon or against such property by any body politic; provided that this shall not be construed to require the payment of any stamp or other taxes upon or on account of conveyance, transfer, assignment or delivery of property to the Alien Property Custodian or to any agent, attorney, bailee, nominee or depositary for him; and provided further that this shall not in any way affect the power of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue or any regulations made by him or under his authority.
2. Whenever any such money or other property or any part or parcel thereof is or shall be subject to any claim of lien, charge or incumbrance, or is or shall be held or retained adversely to the Alien Property Custodian or to any requirement with respect to such money or other property made by him, the Alien Property Custodian may compromise or settle such controversy and pay any such claim in any way that he shall decide to be proper and as though he were the absolute owner of the money or other property involved; and he shall have the power and authority to make any payment or payments necessary and to execute and deliver any instruments or writings necessary and proper to effect or evidence the same.
3. Whenever any such property or any part or parcel thereof shall be used or employed in the conduct or other operation of a mine, plant, factory, railroad or other transportation facility, warehouse, mercantile or trading establishment or any sort of a going business or undertaking, the Alien Property Custodian, in addition to the rights, powers and authority elsewhere herein conferred upon him, in respect of the property so used or employed, may continue the conduct or other operation of such business or undertaking; and for such purpose he shall have the right, power and authority to employ and discharge agents, attorneys, servants and other employees; to buy and sell supplies, materials and commodities required or necessary for the conduct of such business, or dealt in or handled thereby, or mined, produced, manufactured or created by it; to take out insurance; to require money owing by banks, trust companies or other depositaries on special or general deposit to be paid to him or upon his order; to collect debts and other receivables owing to the said business or undertaking or to the former enemy owner or owners thereof and created out of or by the operation of such business or undertaking, and also debts, accounts and other receivables accruing or arising out of the conduct or other operation of such business or undertaking, by the Alien Property Custodian or under his direction or authority; to pay the wages and salaries of agents, attorneys, servants and other employees, and rents, royalties, and other current accounts and liabilities; to intervene in any suit or action pending in any court or before any board, commission or or other body, in which such business or undertaking or any of the property or assets thereof shall be involved or concerned and to prosecute or defend, as the case may be; to file, prosecute and maintain in the name of the Alien Property Custodian or otherwise as may be proper, any claim or suit arising out of or based upon transactions had prior or subsequent to the time when such property was conveyed, transferred, assigned, delivered and/or paid over to the Alien Property Custodian or was required so to be, but growing out of the conduct or operation of such business or undertaking or any other use, custody, control or management of any property or assets thereof; and generally to manage, administer, preserve, conduct, operate and control such business or undertaking and any or all parts or parcels and assets thereof as though the absolute owner, either in the name of the Alien Property Custodian or otherwise as he shall determine.
4. The Alien Property Custodian may appoint agents, attorneys, bailees, depositaries and/or managers who, under his direction and control and within the limits of the authority conferred by him, shall be authorized and directed to hold, manage, administer, protect, preserve and otherwise control property conveyed, transferred, assigned, delivered or paid over to him or required so to be, or any part or parcel thereof; and they may be authorized and directed to continue the conduct or other operation of any going business or other undertaking which the Alien Property Custodian himself, as provided elsewhere herein, could continue. Such agents, attorneys, bailees, depositaries and managers shall have and exercise the rights, powers and authority which shall be from time to time conferred upon him or them by the Alien Property Custodian; and such rights, powers and authority may be enlarged, restricted or revoked by the Alien Property Custodian at any time and without giving any notice or reason therefor; and the remuneration of all such agents, attorneys, bailees, depositaries and managers shall be fixed by the Alien Property Custodian and may be increased or reduced at any time.
5. The Alien Property Custodian shall have full power and discretion with respect to property to be sold, and may sell any property or properties as an entirety or in such groups or parcels and at such time or times as he shall determine, and without reference to the previous enemy or ally of enemy ownership thereof. Whenever any such property shall be used or employed in the conduct or other operation of any mine, plant, factory, railroad or other transportation facility, mercantile establishment or any sort of going business or undertaking, the Alien Property Custodian may sell such property as a going business or undertaking and may include not only the tangible property but any and all patents, trade marks, trade names, good will and other intangible rights and assets; and any number of such going businesses or undertakings may be sold together as above specified.
6. Whereas said Trading With the Enemy Act as amended provides that "any property sold, except when sold to the United States, shall be sold only to American citizens at public sale to the highest bidder, after public advertisement of the time and place of sale, which shall be where the property or a major portion thereof is situated, unless the President, stating the reasons therefore in the public interest shall otherwise determine", Now therefore I do thus determine otherwise as follows:

   (a) Shares of stock or other beneficial interest in a corporation, unincorporated association, company or trust, and claims, receivables and intangibles of all kinds may be advertised and sold wherever the Alien Property Custodian shall determine; and it shall be immaterial whether such shares of stock or other beneficial interest and such claims, receivables and intangibles be represented or evidenced by certificates or instruments or writings of any kind, and whether the Alien Property Custodian shall or shall not have possession or control thereof in the event that the same shall be thus represented or evidenced.

   (b) Any corporation incorporated within and under the authority of the laws of any state or territory of the United States or of any of its insular possessions shall be allowed to bid at any sale of any such property, but the Alien Property Custodian shall have the right to exclude from bidding at any such sale and / or from purchasing or otherwise acquiring property from him directly or indirectly, any corporation which he shall after investigation determine to be controlled, managed or operated wholly or mainly by or for the account or benefit of a person or persons not a citizen or citizens of the United States or of its insular possessions.

   (c) The Alien Property Custodian, upon order of the President stating the reasons therefor, shall have the right to reject all bids for any property thus sold and to resell such property at public sale or otherwise as the President may direct; but the Alien Property Custodian may at or before any sale, by public announcement or by publication, fix a period after the expiration of which the right thus to reject all bids and to resell such property will not be exercised.

   My reasons for the foregoing determinations in the public interest are:

   (a) That such sales may be made at the place of favorable demand and under the best circumstances to secure the market price therefor.

   (b) That bidders able to purchase and pay for the properties to be sold may be secured.

   (c) That the powers of sale given to the Alien Property Custodian may be effectively exercised by him.

7. Any property sold by the Alien Property Custodian either at public or private sale may be sold for cash or upon credit; and in the latter event such security for the payment of that portion of the purchase price remaining unpaid may be taken as he shall deem proper in the premises. He shall be authorized to set a minimum or upset price upon any property offered for sale by him; to fix and prescribe the terms and conditions upon which bids will be received; to determine generally and specially qualifications to be met by persons offering to bid; to require deposits from prospective bidders; to determine generally or specially the nature and extent of information concerning any property or properties offered or to be offered for sale which shall be given prospective bidders, and the inspection thereof which shall be allowed; to have made auditor's reports and appraisals of property or properties offered or to be offered for sale; and to make and establish general and special terms and conditions to govern any and all sales to be made by him. Any property or properties thus sold may be sold subject to or free from any or all debts, claims, obligations and liabilities of all kinds created or arising out of or in respect of, any such property or properties or the conduct or other operation of any such business or other undertaking by the Alien Property Custodian or otherwise; and subject to or free from liens, charges or incumbrances, and payment of such debts, claims, obligations, liabilities and liens, charges and incumbrances, and of all expenses of such sale or sales may be made out of the proceeds from such sale or sales, or may be required to be made or assumed by the purchaser, as the Alien Property Custodian shall determine.
8. All costs and expenses incurred by reason of or in respect of, and all claims and, demands of every kind, character and description based upon or arising out of, the custody, management, administration, protection, preservation and control of any such property and the conduct or other operation of any such going business or other undertaking and the sale or other disposition of any such property, shall be limited to and paid or satisfied out of only the property or business or undertaking involved and out of which, on account of which, or in respect of which such cost, expenses, claim or demand shall have been incurred and shall have arisen or been created; provided that whenever such property or the income therefrom or the assets of any such going business or other undertaking shall be insufficient therefor, such cost, expenses, claim or demand shall be charged thereto, but may be paid or satisfied out of money or other property received from, or as the property of, the same enemy. Neither the Alien Property Custodian nor any agent, attorney, bailee, manager or depositary appointed by him shall be liable personally to any one for or on account of anything done or omitted in respect of, or for any debt or other obligation of any kind or character owing, created or growing out of or in any other way arising from, any such property or the custody, management, administration, protection, preservation, control and / or sale or other disposition thereof, and / or from the conduct or other operation of any going business or undertaking; except in the event of intentional injury or fraudulent misconduct by the person attempted to be charged with liability.
9. The Alien Property Custodian and agents, attorneys, bailees, managers and depositaries for him, within the limits of the authority granted by him, shall have power and authority to do any and all things reasonable or proper in or about or in respect of the exercise of any of the powers and authority specifically granted above; and in addition are authorized and directed hereby to manage all such property, and to do any act or things in respect thereof or make any disposition thereof or any part thereof by sale or otherwise and exercise any rights or powers which may be or become appurtenant thereto or to the ownership thereof, in like manner as though the Alien Property Custodian were the absolute owner thereof, subject to no limitations or restrictions other than those specifically set forth herein or in said "Trading With the Enemy Act", as amended or any prior Executive orders issued pursuant thereto not in conflict herewith.

Power to Issue Requirements Not Inconsistent with Licenses Granted under the Authority of the President.

1. Whenever the Alien Property Custodian shall after investigation determine that any money or other property, including any going business or other undertaking, which is being held, managed, used or employed under a license granted by the President, or in the exercise of the power and authority conferred upon the President by said "Trading With the Enemy Act" as amended, is owing or belonging to or held for, by, on account of, on behalf of, or for the benefit of an enemy or ally of enemy, and such license provides as one of its terms or conditions that such property shall, upon demand or requirement of the Alien Property Custodian, be conveyed, transferred, assigned, delivered, and or paid over to him, the Alien Property Custodian may, without the revocation of such license, require that said money or other property or any part or parcel thereof be conveyed, transferred, assigned, delivered or paid over to him: subject, however, to the continued exercise of such license, but under his supervision or under such other supervision as he may prescribe, and for such period of time or until the happening of such event as he shall prescribe. Whenever such money or property or any part thereof, at the time such requirement is made, shall be used or employed in or about the conduct or management of any mine, plant, factory, railroad or other transportation facility, warehouse, mercantile or trading establishment or any sort of a going business or undertaking, the Alien Property Custodian may require that such money or other property and / or the proceeds from the conduct or management of such business be conveyed, transferred, assigned, delivered or paid over to him, subject to the continued exercise of such license and the continued conduct or management of such business or other undertaking as above provided; and he may leave all or such part of the money or other property of such business or other undertaking in the possession of the licensee or the agent or representative of the licensee to be used, disposed of, and accounted for, in the continued exercise of such license. Any requirement made by the Alien Property Custodian pursuant to the provisions hereof shall be subject to modification or change by him at any time prior to the final compliance therewith. Any of such property other than money, including any such going business or undertaking, may be advertised and sold by the Alien Property Custodian, subject to the exercise of any such license, but for the account of the Alien Property Custodian or for the account of the purchaser as the Alien Property Custodian may determine; and until the purchaser of such property shall be placed in the possession thereof or during such other period as the Alien Property Custodian may determine.

Effect Upon the Statutory Powers of the Alien Property Custodian and Upon Prior Executive Orders.

1. Nothing herein contained shall limit or shall be construed to limit, in any way the rights, powers and authority conferred upon the Alien Property Custodian by the "Trading With the Enemy Act" and the amendments thereto and the Executive orders heretofore issued pursuant thereto.
2. All Executive orders heretofore made are amended and modified hereby to such an extent as may be necessary to conform with the provisions hereof; but with this exception, all of such orders in force and effect at the time this order is issued are expressly ratified and continued in full force and effect.

Woodrow Wilson 

The White House,

16 July, 1918.

Notes

See Related

• Executive Order 2729-A, October 12, 1917;
• Executive Order 2837, April 11, 1918;
• Executive Order 2885, June 15, 1918