In 1945 and 1946. 18 nationsexcludIng the Soviet Unionmet in Paris to divide reparations. They allocated the nonmonetary gold found in Germany by the allied armed forces for the relief of those victims of Nazi aggression who could not be repatriated. The Preparatory Commission for the International Refugee Organization is the agency of the United Nations entrusted with this task. This commission was authorized to sell the retrieved goods at the highest possible value in order to secure funds for the relief of these homeless refugees. The property classified as nonmonetary gold consisted of personal property such as jewelry. rugs. unmounted precious and semiprecious stones. silver. watches. china and glassware. cameras. and the like. which had been seized by the Nazis from their victims. of whom countless numbers later died in concentration camps. This property was unidentifiable both as to previous ownership and national origin. The bulk of this property was brought to the United States by the commission In order to get the best price for it. It was sold in a manner that did flot affect our domestic economy. At the same time there was every hope of securing maximum funds for the relief of refugees. That is. until the rigid United States customs laws were invoked. requiring the Preparatory Commission to pay duties of 0120.000 on the importation of this property. thereby curtailing the net funds available after final sale and reducing the numbers of victims who might otherwise be helped. In other words. the Government of the United States promised to assist and then took a profit on its assistance.
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Refugee refugees