LETTER TO HONORABLE ALLEN W. DULLES FROM DALLAS S. TOWNSEND

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000700170078-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 4, 2007
• Sequence Number: 78
• Publication Date: December 20, 1955
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2007/05/06: CIA-RDP80BO1676R000700170078-4
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAi'T
WASHINGTON
December 20, 1955
Honorable Allen W. Dulles
Director, Central Intelligence Agency
Washington 25, D. C.
Dear Mr. Dulles,
At our conference December 15th on the Ciano Diaries you
mentioned a claim pending here in the Office of Alien Property
involving a trust under the will of Louisa Baggs, and. I am
writing now to give you a brief summary of the matter.
Mrs. Baggs, who died. February 2, 1930, left a will which
was probated in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The will pro-
vided inter alia for a testamentary trust for one Elsa Oppitz
as beneficiary, who was to receive six hundred dollars a year
in quarterly payments of one hundred-fifty dollars each. The
Trustees were the daughters of Mrs. Baggs, lady Ethel Mather
Baggs Bullard Salter and Marchesa Louise de Rosales. The entire
estate was apparently worth around one million dollars.
The interest of Elsa Oppitz was vested March 4, 1943,
Vesting Order 1002, and. the payments of six hundred. dollars per
year were thereafter made to the Office of Alien Property.
Mr. Peter Ward, of Messrs. Davis, Polk, conferred. with
Mr. Creighton here on May 20, 1953. At this conference Mr.
Creighton informed Mr. Ward. that:
;.. No claim had. been filed within the
statutory time,
That Elsa Oppitz could not qualify
DOJ Review Completed. for return, and that
Any claim filed in her behalf would.
have to be disallowed. since she could
OGC Has Reviewed not qualify.
E l?-
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 Approved For Release 2007/05/06: CIA-RDP80B01676R000700170078-4
T,ast Spring, following the death of Elsa Oppitz, counsel
renewed their inquiries on behalf of the Trustees and. it appeared:
1. That the Trustees then held. promissory notes
of Elsa Oppitz for the full amount paid to
the Office of Alien Property, from which I
assume that the Trustees made the payments
to Elsa Oppitz on behlf of the estate, pos-
sibly expecting.to be reimbursed, later, and
2. That the will of Elsa Oppitz bequeathed to
the Trustees the funds due her under the will
of Mrs. Baggs.
Mr. Creighton, Chief of our Claims Section, informed counsel
that vested. property could be returned. or disposed. of only under
the Trading with the Enemy Act, that is to say by return to the
owner at the time of vesting under statutory conditions, and
particularly that title claims have to be filed by February 9, 1955
(before the death of Miss Oppitz), and that a debt claim, such as
this to be asserted by the Trustees, was required to be filed not
later than August 8, 1948, for this vesting order.
Accordingly, having regard to these circumstances, it would
seem that the Trustees could. be reimbursed. from funds held by this
Office only by virtue of new legislation.
It was very interesting, and also quite helpful to me, to be
in touch with you concerning the Ciano Diaries. We appreciate
very much your cooperation.
~'`With the compliments and best wishes of the Christmas Season,
believe me
Sincerely yours,
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 Approved
U1Vl.. L'n~5
CONFIDENTIAL SECRET
(SEN ER WILL CIRCLE ';LASSIFICATION TOP AND BOTTOM)
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[--1 APPROVAL INFORMATION ~-] SIGNATURE
ACTION DIRECT REPLY RETURN
COMMENT PREPARATION OF REPLY DISPATCH
D CONCURRENCE RECOMMENDATION FILE
Remarks: Marie: Copy of letter attached per our
telephone conversation. References are
ER 7-6793 and 6794, both dated Dec. 3.
Mr. Houston may wish to see this.
~~~~~? Alice
SECRET CONFIDENTIAL / IJNCY,ASSIcivn
tURM NU.
be used.
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