Evening star., 1922-03-23

The text Of the American note rela-
tive to costs OF maintenance Of the
American army Of occupation on the
Rhine was made public today.
Under instructions from the Sec
retary Of State, the American diplo-
matte. representatives at Brussels,
London, Paris. Rome and Toxic have
addressed communications to the gov
ernments of Belgium. Great Britain.
France, Italy and Japan, respectively.
in the following terms:
"The government of the United
States has believed. and still believes.
that the governments OF the allied
powers have no disposition to ques-
tion the right Of the United States to
be paid, upon an equal footing with
them. the actual cost of its army OF
occupation which 1t has maintained In
Germany since the Joint armistice
While the attitude of the government
Of the United States in expecting full
payment of these costs has been re-
peatedly set forth, 1t Is deemed to be
appropriate. in view Of recent devei-
opments, to make this statement or
it's position. ~.
United States for its Army costs Is
understood to be well known and to
be free from any substantial dispute.
According to the information and &C.
counts in the possession Of the allied
governments, 1t appears that the To-
tai cost Of all the armies Of occupa-
tlon from November IL, 1913, TO May
l, 1921, amounted to 3.639.282. 900 gold
marks: that the amounts due to Bel
gium, France and Italy for their army
costs for that period have been palo
in full (chiefiy through deliveries OF
property; and that the unpaid bal
of sr%y to sSste @ gcd
due to the United States and the
British empire as follows:
United States. s6s.s74,ooo gold
British empire. sss,7ls,ooo gold
marks.
TT is understood that between May
1, 1921, and December 81, 1921, the
British government received cash
payments as. against this balance. OF
about 130,696. 900 gold marks. In vie"
Of the position taken by the govern
mcnt Of the United States, this pay
ment was expressly made and re-
ceived subject to the rights Of the
United States.
Report Of Commission.
"In November, 1921, the commission
appointed by the supreme council to
give its opinion on the expenses OF
the armies of occupation made Its
report, dealing with the army costs
since May I, 1921. This included
calculations with respect to the
American Army, and its actual costs
since that date were included in the
proposed provision for payment part
passu with the other powers.
1T had been supposed that this
report to the supreme council would
be referred to the conference OF am
bassadors and would pave the way
for suitable action with respect to
the American Army costs. both cur
rent and accumulated. 1t was with
surprise that the government OF the
United States recently learned ina!
negotiations, in connection with and
following the meeting at Cannes IN
plated the substitution for the recon-
mendation of the army costs com
mission Of other arrangements which
would ignore American Army costs
altogether, although estimates both
for army costs and reparations were
capacity of the German government
to pay. When 1t came to the notice
of this government that it was pro-
posed at the meeting of the finance
ministers, to convene at Paris on
March 8. definitely to assign the
greater portion OIL tne dhouH' heAS
tofore paid in cash by Germany. and
not yet finally allocated, to the pay
ment Of army costs without making
any provision for those OF the Amer
ican Army. it was deemed advlsao!e
again to direct attention to the posi-
ernment Of the United States has
been advised that all the arrange
ments of the finance ministers have
been made subject to the rights OF
the United States and that tnese
ministers have also suggested tnat
should take up the question directly
with the governments concerned.
Armfstice Provisions.
.urhe armistice agreement concluded
between the allied and associated
governments and Germany on Novem-
bar IL, 1918, provided for military oc-
cupation by the allied and United
states forces jointly. and it was ex-
pressly provided that:
cupation in the Rhine districts lex
cluding Alsace-Lorraine) shan De
charged to the German government
"It is not believed that the meaning
of this agreement can be regarded as
doubtful It had not only its express
lions. 1t is the view Of this govern
ment, and it is confidently believed
that it is the view of all the govern
ments concerned, that this agreement
on the part Of the allied and assoct-
ated governments with Germany, and
with each other. had the clear import
that tho powers associated in this
joint enterprise should stand upon
an equal footing as to the payment
of all the actual costs of their armies
Of occupation and that none of the
powers could, consistently with the
agreement, make any arrangement
for a preferential or exclusive right
of payment. Further, it is assumed
that it would not for a moment be
contended that any Of the allied pow
ers would have been entitled to enter
into any arrangement by which all
the assets or revenues of the German
empire and its constituent states
would be taken for their benefit to
the exclusion of any of the other
powers concerned.
ut was apparently in recognition of
the existing ard continuing obliga-
tion as to army costs that, in the
treaty Of Versailles, in undertaking
to place a first charge upon ali the
assets and revenues of the German
empire and it's constituent states
(article 248). priority was given to
the total cost Of all armies Of the
allied and associated governments in
occupied German territory from the
OhkS VI LILO signature VI IH0 S4IIu1.
stice agreement
Statements in Treaty,
ARTICLES 249 and 251 Of the treaty
Of Versailles provide:
ARTICLE 249. There shall be paid
by the German government the total
cost Of all armies OF the allied and
associated governments in occupied
German territory from the date Of the
signature of the armistice Of Novem-
Der II, 1918. including the keep of
men and beasts, lodging and billet
ing. pay and allowances. salaries and
wages. bedding, heating, lighting.
clothing, equipment. harness and sad
dlery, armament and rolling stock.