Executive Order 2914

by President of the United States

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," and the amendment to such Act embodied in "An Act making appropriations to supply urgent deficiencies in appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1918, and prior fiscal years, on account of war expenses, and for other purposes," approved March 28, 1918, I hereby, in the public interest, make the following determination, order, rule and regulation:

The Alien Property Custodian may sell at private sale, without public or other advertisement, any real property or any right, title, or interest therein of whatsoever kind; ground rents, leaseholds, options on real or personal property, stocks, beneficial interests in stocks, including voting trust certificates, and all other rights appurtenant to the ownership of stock, bonds, negotiable instruments or evidences of indebtedness, seats on stock or other exchanges; in parcels, lots, or quantities having a market value at the time of sale not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars for each parcel, lot or quantity sold. Any such sale may be conducted at such place and upon such terms and conditions as to the Alien Property Custodian, or his authorized agent, may seem proper.

My reasons for the foregoing determination, order, rule and regulation are:

(a) The properties above classified cannot usually be sold to the best advantage at public sale after public or other advertisement.

(b) The sales hereby authorized may be made at the time and place of most favorable demand and upon such terms and conditions as may be necessary to secure the best market price.

(c) Unnecessary expense, delay and inconvenience may be avoided.

Woodrow Wilson 

The White House,

15 July, 1918.