The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-23
J. s. EXPECTS 10
 RECEIVE PAY FOR
 RHINE ARMY COST
America Unable to Conclude Justice of Claim Not Fully Recognized, AL
 lies Are Told
nr Assnciatcd Press

Washington, March 22.-The Amer iran arm of occupation was sent into Germany and was continued there unon the basis of the right Of the United states ito be paid for US ae- tuaI cost on an equal footing wlth tbe aIlesr and this government IS unahle to conclude that the justice or ifs claim is not fully recognized according to identical communiea- Hons delivered today by American representatives to the governments of Belgium. Great Britain rrahce' Italy and Japan
 The notes were delivered under in- structions from Secretary Hughes of the department of state ana "efe oceasfoned by recent information from American observers In Europe that the allied governments had ap- parently contemplated arrangements which would ignore the American army costs altogether although estl- mates both for army costs and repara- siona were being made on the bass of the entire capacity of the German government to pay. The amount oi the claims of the United states TOT It's army cost the notes deciarea' was understood to be free from any substantial dispute. but it was deem. ed to he appropriate. ''in view of recent developments to acquaint the allied governments with the repeat edly reiterated statement that the government of the United states WAS expecting full payment of the costs of it's army in the Rhineland.
 Basis For Claim
 Basis for the American claim, the notes pointed out, was found in the armistice agreement. to which the United states was a signatory. and which provided for military accupa . | tfon Of Germany by the allied and American forces jointly. That agree ment the notes recited, expressly |. provided that the upkeep of the troops of occupation in the Rhine districts should be charged, to the German government, and 1t was expressed as 1 the view of the American govern ment that the armistice agreement had the clear import that the powers associated in that joint enterprise should stand upon an equal footing as to the payment of all the actual costs of their armies of occupation.' Priority of payment for the totai l cost Of all armies of occupation was ! imposed by the treaty of Versailles. l the notes set forth and since the right | of the United States to share in that priority was mot expressly condi- ,ioned'' upon ratification of the treaty by the United states, failure to ratify would not be construed as affecting in any way American rights. In that connection the notes pointed out that fermany had explicitly consented to payment of the cost of the American army of occupation notwithstanding .t at hat la nf Varqaill n has not been ratified by the United States and that hence any tech nical objection" to the discharge of the jus. claim of the United States would necessarily rest solely upon the refusal of the allied powers themselves to permit the discharge of an admittedly equitable claim" and 1t was insisted that the rights Of America were free from any technical objection.
 Total Costs Given
 The notes set forth that the total cost of all armies of occupation from November II. 1918, to May l. l92i amounted to S.6S9, ,zS2.000 gold marks: that the amounts due to Belgium France and Italy for their army costs for that period had been paio in full. and that the unpaid balsnce aus Mhy l, lS-i, a'hoN.e oso, 900 gold marks of which s66,374,- 900 gold marks were due to the United States and the remainder due the British empire. It was pointed out, also. that the British government had received 13O.69s.oo0 gold marks be- tween May 1 and December sl. 1921. and that the payment was expressly made and received subject to tn, rights of the United States.
 In conclusion the notes stated that the American government would well come any suggestions from the alliec governments for the reasonable ad- justment of this matter" and the powers were informed that upon having assurance of payment" this government would be "only too happy to proceed to the consideration of suitable means by which it's claim might be satisfied"