The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1922-03-31
AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN GER
MANY AT ESPECIAL REQUEST
OF THE ALLIES.
Versailles Treaty Has no Connection
with Americas Action In Matter.


with Americas Action In Matter.
The request of the United States
that she be reimbursed for the $780,
100000 which she has expended to
maintain soldiers on the Rhine since
the conclusion of peace has started
an uproar in Europe. With one ac-
cord the leading allied powers have
protested they were under no obliga-
lions to reimburse the United States
for the cost Of maintaining her sol
diers in Germany, inasmuch as she
did not agree to the Treaty of YER
sailles. With one accord they insist
that she look to Germany for pay
ment. The comments in British
newspapers and by British leaders
are very caustic. representing the
United States as being grasping and
mercenary and trying to obtain some
thing to which she legally has no
right. French comment goes even
farther, in that it asserts that
Americas claims are an "unfriendly
act"
These protests and comments are
taken up, repeated and approved by
the Democratic press of this coun-
try which, as usual, finds it easier to
agree and sympathize with European
critics of America than to stand up
for Americ anism. Democratic news
papers join in the European chorus
to the effect that, inasmuch as the
United States did not ratify the
Treaty of Versailles, it can not ex-
pect to be reimbursed for the cost
of maintaining troops on the Rhine.
In point of fact and the official
records these statements are grossly
and absolutely untrue. The main
tenance of American soldiers on the
Rhine have nothing at all to do with
the Versailles treaty.
Under the terms Of the Versailles
treaty the allied powers were to
maintain armed forces in German
territory in order to see that the
German government obeyed the terms
of the treaty. Under the terms of
the treaty Germany was to pay the
allies for the cost of maintaining
these troops on her soil. This was
exactly what Germany exacted of
France following the Franco-Prussian
war.
The United States did not ratify
the Versailles treaty. Therefore, 1T
was not obligated to maintain troops
in Germany. 1t did not and has not
maintained troops in Germany by
reason of any commitments under the
Versailles treaty. 1t has maintained
troops in Germany at the specific and
urgent request of the allied powers,
particularly the British and French
governments which argued that in
event the United States withdrew
her troops from the Rhine it would
be taken as evidence the United
States had broken with the allies
and would encourage the German
government to resist the terms of the
treaty and thereby cause trouble to
France, Belgium and Great Britain.
In other words. the United States
has maintained armed forces on the
Rhine by virtue of a "gentleman's
agreement" between this country and
the allied powers and as an especial
favor to them. In consideration OF
the United States doing this, the
allied powers agreed, upon their
part, to see to it the United States
were reimbursed for the cost of
maintaining these troops. This gov
eminent has had no thought there
would be any reputation of this
agreement upon the part of Great
Britain and France until recently,
when it became known these nations,
in common with other allies. were
taking steps that would deprive the
United States of such reimburse
ment. Then it was that the United
States made a formal demand for
payment of the costs of maintaining
her forces.
The argument that she should look
to Germany is piff1e, because she has
not maintained her troops on the
Rhine at the request of Germany
and has no agreement with Germany
concerning such occupation. For
Great Britain, France and other allies
now to claim the United States is
not entitled to reimbursement be-
cause she did not sign the Treaty of
Versailles is plain Justification of the
facts. in very disreputable effort
to repudiate an honest agreement
made at their request for the purpose