Evening star., 1922-03-12
Cost of Rhine Army,

1t is occasion for surprise in this
country that the allied governments
should have been surprised at the re-
quest of this government for payment
of $241 100000 on account of the cost
of maintaining an American army on
the Rhine. That the cost of the army
of occupation should take precedence
over reparations out of any payments
by Germany was policy to which all
interested parties had agreed. But it
seems that the fact that American
troops had constituted a part of the
army of occupation had been over
looked-or calmly ignored-and after
providing for their own army costs the
allied powers have proceeded to appor.
ton the balance of the first billion gold
marks paid by Germany in accord
with their own scheme of priorities.
1t appears that recognition" was
given the American claim by the al
lied finance ministers assembled at
Paris. but recognition and payment
are things quite apart. The finance
ministers are represented as taking
the view that as this government is
neither they nor the reparations COM
mission have authority to turn over to
the United States any money collected
from Germany under the operations of
the treaty, and that the American gov
ernment must resort to diplomacy"
IN NH ;S nd, ,;tto rl,,a
In other words. all the resources of
Germany being mortgaged to the Eu-
ropean allies for q great deal more
than Germany ever can pay the United
States can whistle down the wind for
the money owed 1t for maintaining an
the European allies intend to play the
game they will find there are states
men on this side of the Atlantic capa-
ble of putting up a pretty stiff game
along the same lines.
In view of present and impending
ury, S241 ,000. 900 is a piece OF money
not to be shifted at. but what gets"
the American people more than the
amount involved is the assured way in
which Europe seems disposed to brush
aside debts due this country as incon-
sequential and not to be taken serious
ly. Neither the American people nor
the American government ever want
ed to keep an American army on the
Rhine. 1t was the almost unanimous
demand OF the country, as soon as the
armistice was signed, that our soldiers
should be brought home. 1t was the
allied governments, especially Great
Britain and France, which urged and
pleaded for the retention of American
troops. This government yielded to
their insis.ence and allowed number
of regiments to remain, though the
force left was not nearly so large as
the allies wanted. Both the Wilson
and Harding administrations have had
to resist constant pressure for with
drawal Of the troops. but the govern
ment has felt that it ought not to
shirk anything which might seem like
an obligation growing out of the war.
Under these circumstances. it does
not go down well. to say the least. for
the allied powers to assume that their
expenses for occupational troops are
proper charges against German pay
nents while those Of the United States
are not. II they felt that their neces-
stiles were so great that this govern
ment ought to wait until some future
time for payment they might at least
have inquired whether such an ar
rangement would be satisfactory. Hav-
ing failed to do this, and the govern
ment having been forced to make
formal request for settlement, the
matter takes on an Importance out of
proportion to its real merits. 1t be-
comes a test of the possibility Of doing
business with Europe upon anything
but a cold -bIooded business basis.