New-York tribune., 1922-03-14

Priority in Col
iecting From Germany
Was Forfeited i'm Yer.
sailles Pact Rejection
Separate Treaty
Is Not Recognized
" ashington Will Maintain
Firm Stand and Refuse
10 Heed TcchnicaIitics
From Tho 7rtbure'a Europcor suieau

Copyright, 1922. New York Tribune Inc
fAltlS, March 13. Payment to the
United States Of the $241 900 600
claimed as the cost of occupying the
Rhine was thrust into tho remote fu-
tnro by high authority in France
to-day. The statement was made fatty
that the United States forfeited all
rights Of priority in German payments
by its failure to sign the Versailles
treaty, and further that its claims
under the separate treaty negotiated
with Germany had no validity.
The position of the European coun-
tries involved is that under the Yer
sailles treaty Germany is forced to
recognize the prior rights OF the
Allies. This view is carried even Ia
the extent Of asserting that the United
states has no right to dispose of the
sequestcred property in America be-
longing to the Germans and applying
the proceeds to the claim. Such pro-
cceding, it was asserted would first re-
qulre tho consent of the Allies who
claim first lcin on everything that Ger
many possesses in the way of assets.
Allies TO Maintain Stand
The Tribune correspondent is given to
understand that the Allies mean to
stand OH what they term their RIGHTS in
this respect, even though it postpones
payment of the $24l 100000 claim in
deinitely. All emergencies are consid.
cred IN this stand, including the possi-
billty that Germany will not be able
to make cash payments and thus make
1t necessary for the Allies to grant a
moratorium, giving Germany time to
readJust its exchange and reconstruct
its industries. If the Allies engage d
to help in all these processes it is
hard to tell when the claim of the
United States would come up for con-
sidcration.
1t will be recalled that the agree
ment signed on Saturday by the Allied
foreign ministers at Paris dealt only
with the division of German payment
in goods during 1922. While rcpara
tlons will not be dealt with at Genoa
it is limited here, the Allied ministe RS
viii meet before that conference to
discuss the intricate problems arising
out of the American demand, and the
United States will be invited to have
represer tatives at that meeting, al
though it will not operate under the
name of council.
Won't Recognize U. S.-Berlin Pact
1t is asserted to-day that the Allies
never gave formal recognition to the
German American treaty, despite the
fact that American representatives
formally sounded out the separate gov
ernments. Therefore, since it was
never recognized, it is regarded by the
Allies merely as second mortgage
with the Versailles treaty as first
mortgage, which they claim gives the
Allies supervisory powers over all Ger
man property until it's prior claims
are paid off.
1t is held here that the next move
in the treaty tanglc must come from
the United States, although in neutral
circles it is regarded as next to i'm
possible for the United States to get
The French government is not yet
officially informed of the claim made
by Washington, and M. Jusserand has
been instructed to make inquiries look
ing toward the opening of diplomatic
conversations between Paris and Wash
ington. In the view of the Allied min
listers at their meeting on Saturday
they held it was q case involving diplo-
matte negotiations between the various
countries involved.
u. S. Intends to Press Claim
From, The Trtbume's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 49, - The
American demand for payment ol
S24O, 100000 for the maintenance ot
y, h,rr