The Snowflake herald., 1922-03-31
DEMAND COST OF
ARMY ON Rhine
FULL PAYMENT OF COST OF
ARMY OF OCCUPATION
EXPECTED.
U. S. SEEKS PAYMENTS
NOTES TO ALLIES OUTLINE
CLAIMS FOR REPAIR
ALTON.
(wes..rn Newspaper Union News seric..1

Washington.-The American army
of occupation was sent into Germany
and was continued there on the basis
of the right of the United States to be
paid it's actual cost upon an equal
footing with our allies and this gov
eminent sis unable to conclude that
the justice of it's claim is not fully rec
Ognized" according to identical COM
munications delivered by American
diplomatic representatives to the gov
ernments of Belgium, Great Britain,
France, Italy and Japan.
The notes were delivered under in
structions from Secretary Hughes of
the Department of State.
Basis for the American claim, the
notes pointed out, was found in the
armistice agreement, to which the
United States was signatory, and
which provided for military occupa-
ton of Germany by the allied and
American forces jointly. That agree
ment, the notes recited, expressly pro-
vided that the upkeep of the troops of
should be charged to the German gov
eminent, and it was expressed as the
view of the American government
that the armiStice agreement had the
clear import" that the powers associ-
ated in that joint enterprise should
stand upon an equal footing as to the
payment of all actual costs of their
armies of occupation"
Priority of payment for the total
cost of all armies of occupation i'm
posed by the treaty of Versailles, the
notes set forth, and since the right of
the United States to share in that pri-
GRITTY was mot expressly conditioned"
upon ratification of the treaty by the
United States, failure to ratify should
not be construed as affecting in any
way American rights.
In that connection the notes pointed
out that Germany has explicitly con-
sented to the priority of payment OF
cost of the American army of occupa-
ton, Notwithstanding the fact that the
treaty of Versailles has not been rati-
fled by the United States" and that
hence "any technical objection" to the
discharge of the just claim of the
United States would necessarily rest
solely upon the refusal of the allied
powers themselves to permit the dis
charge of an admittedly equitable
claim" and it was insisted that the
rights of America were free from any
technical objection.
The notes set forth that the total
cost of all armies of occupation from
Nov. IL, 1913, to May 1, 1921, amounted
to 1888, 282000 gold marks; that the
amounts due to Belgium, France and
Italy for their army costs for that
period had been paid in full, and that
the unpaid balance due May 1, 1921,
amounted to 1,660,O9O,OOO gold marks,
of which 966,374,OOO gold marks were
due to the United States and the re-
mainder due the British empire.
1t was pointed out also, that the
British government had received $780,
100000 gold marks between May and
Dec. 81, 1921, and that the payment
was expressly made and received sub.
ject to the rights of the United
States"
In conclusion the notes stated that
the American government would well
come any suggestions from the allied
governments for the reasonable adj
justment of this matter" and the pow.
ers were informed that upon receiv-
ms assurances of payment" this gov.
eminent would be ''only too happy to
proceed to the consideration of suit.
able means" by which it's claims might
be satisfied.