Arizona republican., 1922-03-23

and that these ministers have also
suggested that the government of the
United States should take UP the
question directly with the govern
ments concerned.
"rhe arnistice agreement conclud-
cd between the allied and associated
governments and Germany on New.
il. 1918, provided for military occu-
patton by the allied and United
States forces jointly as it was ex-
pressly provided that:
Stand on Equal Footing
"The upkeep of the troops Of occu-
patton in the Rhine districts (exclud-
ing Alsace- -Lorraine) shall be charged
to the German government
'It is not believed that the mean
ing Of this agreement can be regard
ed as doubtful. II had not only its
express provision but its necessary
Implications It is the view of this
government and it is confidently be-
lievcd that it is the view Of all gov
ernments concerned that this agree
ment on the part or the allied ana
associated governments with Ger
many and with each other. had the
clear import that the powers asso-
ciated in this joint enterprise should
stand upon an equal footing as to the
nayment OF all the actual costs OF
their armies of occupation and that
none Of the powers could, consist
emily with the agreement. make any
arrangement for a preferential or
exclusive right of payment. Further,
it is assumed that 1t would not for
moment be contended that any OF the
allied powers would have been en-
titled to enter into any agreement by
which all the assets or revenues or
the German empire and its constitu.
tent states would be taken for their
benefit to the exclusion OF any or the
other powers concerned.
att was apparently in recognition
of the existing and continuing obli-
cation as to army costs that, in the
treaty or Versailles, IN the undertak-
ing to place first charge upon all
the assets and revenues Of the Ger
man empire and It's constituent
states (article 24s) priority was
given to the total cost Of all armies
OF the allied and associated govern
ments in occupied German territory
from the date of the signature Of the
armistice agreement.
Articles 249 and 25i OF the treaty
of versailles provide:
"'Article 249--there shall be padu
bv the German government the totai
cost OF all armies of the allied ana
associated governments in occupied
German territory from the date OF
~ eionatrra OF tho armistice of Nov.
N 1918. including the keep or men
and beasts. lodging and billeting, pay
and allowances, salaries ana vases
bedding heating, lighting. Columns
equipment harness and saodlery, ~
vnanent and rolling stock, air serN-
ire trnatrnent or the sick and wound
Cd. veterinary and remount services,
transnort service OF all sorts, such as
hv rail sea. river, motor lorrles COM
n,unIcations and correspondence ~
General the cost OF all administration
or technical services. the working OF
which is necessary for the training q
troops and for keeping their numbers
up to the strength and preserFlhs
their military efficiency -.
nArtioie 251 the priority OF
the charges established by article
24s shall, subject to the qualirica-
tions made below be as follows;
(a) The cost OF the armies Of oc-
cunation is defined under article 243
during the arnistice and its ex-
tensions;
(b) The cost of any armies Of
occupation as defined under article
s4s after the coming into force OF
the present treaty;
aRv the treaty between the United
Statea and Germany. signed August
25 1921. the ratiflcations or Whlcn
were exchanged on November IL,
1921. it is provided that the United
states shall have and enjoy the
rights and advantages stipulated Tor
the benefit Of the United States.in
fhe treaty OF Versailles, notwith-
standing the fact that the treaty
has not been ratified by the United
States.
"The government Of the United
states ontertains the view, and sub
mits it to the consideration or the
allied Governments, that the United
States is entitled to payment of the
costs Of its army Of occupation pari
passu with the allied governments
and that payments received by them
from Germany IN the circumstances
disclosed can not be used to the
exclusion of the United States With
out it's consent.
"The government Of the United
States is unable to conclude that
the Justice OF it's claim is not fully
recognized. The governments OF tne
allied powers will not be unmindfui
Of the fact that the government oI
the United States has repeatedly and
earnestly been solicited not to with
draw its army of occupation and
this army has been continued upon
the basis Of the rights to be paid
it's actual cost upon an equal loot
ing with the allies. But, while 1t is
believed that the allied governments
can not fail to appreciate the mani
fest equity of the claim of the
United States, it is understood that
it has been suggested that there
are technical difficulties which stand
in the way Of its recognition. While
willing to take into full considera-
ton every possible question, this
government is unable to find any
such technical obstacle.
Germany Accepts Claim
1T is assumed that if any tech
nical question We're raised it would
be based upon the fact that the
United States has not ratified the
treaty of Versailles. Tt may be
pointed out, however, that Germany
has explicitly consented to the
priority OF payment Of the cost OF
the American army OF occupation,
Notwithstanding the fact that the
treaty of Versailles has not been
ratified by the United States.
Hence, any technical objection to
the application of the payments made 4
by Germany to the discharge of the
just claims Of the United States for
the cost of it's army Of occupation
upon the ground that the United
States had not ratified the treaty of
Versailles, would necessarily rest, not
upon any action or lack Of action on
the part Of Germany, but solely upon
the refusal OF the governments Of the