, 1922-03-25
THE WATCH ON THE RHINE.

Certain European statesmen would be pleased to
create the impression that Secretary Hughes exhibited
a lack of diplomatic tact in presenting the claim of
the United States for reimbursement of the cost Of
maintaining the American army on the Rhine. They
would have it go out to the world that the United
States waited until the allied finance ministers had
reached an agreement for division of the first billion
gold marks received from Germany, and then stepped
in with a demand of priority for the American claim
of S241 200, 900.
The American claim for payment of the costs Of
the American army of occupation was based, original
Iy on the terms of the armistice of November IL, 1918,
which said that German territory was to be occupied
@by the allied and United States forces jointly" 1t
was then stipulated that ''the upkeep of the troops
shall be charged to the German government" Later
the Versailles treaty provided that out of PREPARATIONS
"the expenses of the armies of occupation shall first
be met" The United States did not become a party
to that treaty, but under the terms of the separate
treaty beween this country and Berlin the United
States expressly reserves all rights, privileges, in
IDENTITIES, reparatiins, or advantages to which 1t be-
came entitled under the terms of the armistice. or
which, under the Treaty of Versailles, have been
stipulated for its benefit" Our troops were left in
German territory at the urgent request of England
and France on the plea that American troops would be
more effective than allied forces in preserving peace.
Those nations then agreed to see the United States re-
imbursed-
1t may be said that the American demand should
have been directed to Germany. But we were con-
fronted with a state of affairs. Germany can make
no financial move except with the consent of the allies,
who are on the ground with their reparations commits
sion. All of the war indemnity goes through that COM
mission. The United States has no disposition to find
fault with that arrangement SO long as it does not in
fringe upon American rights under the Berlin treaty.
When the commission does interfere with those rights
it is the duty of the secretary of state to protect them.
As to the abruptness of Mr.. Hughes action. The
fact is that he strained diplomatic practice to the limit
In giving the allied ministers opportunity to take cog
rizance of the American claim without the necessity
of any reminder from Washington. Up to the very
last minute, when the agreement for the division of the
Preparations payment was about to be signed, Mr..
Hughes remained silent, but when it became apparent
that the United States was to be ignored entirely he
stepped in and recalled to the minds of the ministers
the stipulations which should have governed their &C.
items. Even then there was no insistence on imme-
diate payment, but only on the official recognition of
the American claim.
The whole incident is but another manifestation of
the desire of certain foreign ministers to shut the
United States off from any share in the victory won
IN 1918. What this country has done in the way of
money loans and supplies sent to the devastated re-
gions, since the war is sufficient proof that the United
States has no grasping proclivities. Other nations
have seized former German territory and other spoils
of war, while this country has been content with vim
dicating its international rights. We intend, however,
to collect the ordinary obligations due us from abroad.