Evening star., 1922-03-17
u. S. SHOULD INSIST
ARMY BILL Be PAID,
SENATORS DECLARE
Lodge, Underwood and Borah
Join in Urging Payment of
Rhine Troop Cost.
SAY CLAIM RESTS UPON
.ARMISTICE AGREEMENT
Lodge and Poindexter Deny Con
tention Obligations Depended
Upon Versailles Treaty.

upon versailles Treaty.
Declarations that the United State,
should insist upon payment of it,
bill of $241 100000 for keeping Amer
lean soldiers in Germany were mad.
in the Senate by both party leaders,
Senators Lodge and Underwood, and
Senator Borah, republican,. Idaho.
Mr.. Underwood also urged appoint
ment of an American representative
on the allied reparations commission.
Both Senators Lodge and Under
wood charged the allies with at
tempting by a technicality" to op
pose payment of the bill for the
American troops. while Senator
Borah said the allies attitude was
entirely unwarranted'
Senator Underwood asserted the
republicans were responsible for not
having a member of the reparations
commission. This. the democratic
leader asserted, was the only way
in which the occupation claim could
be collected. Senators Lodge aud
Poindexter, republican, Washington,
denied this contention, declaring that
the obligation to pay for the Ameri-
can soldiers rested upon the armistice
agreement and not upon either the
treaty of Berlin or that OF Versailles
Brought Up by Borah.
Senator Borah brought up the ques
| ton today in the Senate. He called
attention to reports that Premier
Poincare OF France had declared
America has no legal right to col
| lect for the keep of American troops
| in Germany.
II have no doubt that Secretary
Hughes will work out some method
of securing payment" said Senator
Borah, adding that he was however,
primarily interested in having all
American troops brought out of Ger
! many.
Our Army was left in Europe sup
posedly to the benefit of the allies"
/ said the Idaho senator. Certainly, it
was not for the benefit of the Ameri-
| can people, directly or particularly.
( l. aow appears that our Army is no
tllonger needed in Europe. 1t seems TO
me that the attitude of the allies is
| entirely unwarranted and warrants
| US bringing home all Of our soldiers.
Troop Total Unjust.
Senator Borah added that the
attitude of the allies in maintaining
what he termed an excessive number
of troops in Germany was unjust"
and calculated to prevent economic
recovery Of Germany and also OF
| Europe. Senator Borah said the
| question Of the return of the troops
| would be Tive issue" when the
| Army appropriation bill comes before
the Senate.
/ Senator Underwood said he con-
Cured in all that Senator Borah had
said.
Il can. see no reason" said the
American soldier should remain on
the Rhine. The American troops
were invited by the allies to remain
in Germany" Mr.. Underwood de-
clared, and the American claim for
their maintenance is lust and
I'm right. justice and fair play"
said Mr.. Underwood, the American
government is entitled to stand on
the same basis and receive from Ger
many its proportionate pay for the
soldiers. l regret very much that
a technicality in opposing payment"
| 1.-THE time has come" said Senator
Underwood. declaring that the ques-
tion was not involved in the league
of nations controversy.
| Senator Poindexter. republican,
! Washington, intertected that Euro
pean troubles were largely political
and economic, and suggested thar
:! America would become involved In
them by joining the reparations COM
mission.
Senator Lodge declared that the
$241 10000 bill had nothing to do
with the reparations commission" and
that neither the supreme council, nor
any other body had the management
of a claim which, he said. rested on
the armiStice agreement.
Drafts Notes to Allies.
Secretary Hughes was engaged to-
day in drafting identical notes, which
will be sent to the allied govern
ments, setting forth the views Of the
United States on its demand for pay
ment of $241,0oo.ooo for costs Of the
army of occupation in Germany.
While no intimation was given con-
cerning the text Of the notes. it was
said at the State Department that the
forthcoming communications would
show that the United States expected
its rights to payment to be fully met.
! 1t also was said that the notes would
set forth that the American govern
ment was endeavoring to act without
undue harshness in the matter Of pay
ment.
The notes, it was. stated. would 50
but that pending announcement oil
their transmission at IAN appropriate
time" the American government could
add nothing to what already has been
reported.
The United States. it has been as
serted by State Department omciais.
had no. intention OF aEreeing TO any
thing less than the $241,000.e00 De
manded, but yet would be reasonable
In the matter of time and manner or
payment. --.---'-- -.-- .,--