The New York herald., 1922-03-31

Herald OF Paris by a leading govern.
mental financial authority, will set
forth the following points:
FIRST - The principal Of Ger
many's Indebtedness to the United
States for the Rhine army occupa-
tion costs will be admitted by the
allied governments and in conse-
quence the Reparations Commits
sion will express willingness to aid
the United States in collecting it's
claims from Germany, especially ins
the matter of payments in goods.
SEcoND-That the so-calied first
lien on Germany for the payment Of
army occupation costs only applied
to tie initial payment of 10000, ,000,-
900 marks, which by the London
agreement was cut down to virtually
5000, 10000. of which the billion in
question constituted the final pay
ment in cash. Therefore. payments
since this first billion are held not to
be affected by the American demand
and are subject 10 distribution by
TIE Preparations Commission.
Treaties ON Equality.
THIRD-The Allies are disposed
juridically to give the Versailles and
Berlin treaties equality so far as
payments are concerned, but as the
Allies are working under the Ver-
sailles Treaty and are enforcing
payments under it they will suggest
that the United States demand pay
ment under its own Berlin Treaty,
but with assurance from the Allies
that they will not take any ag-
gressive attitude toward the Ameri-
can policy. In other words. should
Germany maintain that she can
only deliver goods in payment to
certain amount, the apportionment
of this amount will be agreed upon
in a conference between the Allies
and the United States, the former
not insisting. as they contended at
first that they had the right to do.
that they have a prior lien on Ger
many's payments because of prior
ity of signature.
This is notable change in position
from that taken Immediately after
Rowland w. Boyden had presented the
memorandum, when the
Finance Ministers seemed disposed to
quibble over tho confusion caused by
alleged prior liens on everything that
Germany could pay, either in cash or
goods.
1t should be noted however, that the
Allies still are hoping for an interna-
tional loan participated in by America
to take up A and B bonds, and holding
out the bait to America that IL she
assists in floating the loan adequate
provision will be made TO cover her
occupation claim.
Meanwhile Americas participation
in the deliberations of the Repara-
tions Commission is assuming more
and more Importance, as is indicated
by the fact that Mr.. Boyden was dele
gated by the commission to preside
over a meeting of the delegates of the
smaller nations to discuss the dis
VI DGI Gtlll. vi SIt iCPdi
tions payments assigned to these
Powers and that Mr.. Boyden for
mally repeated to them the American
regarding the distribu-
ton OF any reparations sums without
the consent OF the United States.
1t is now obvious that Americas s
claims will be greatly facilitated AMI
more quickly obtained X
the United States representative is
made a full member OF the commits
sion and that the Allies. far from OBJ
jecting, would welcome such a step.
Attitude OF France.
The French attitude regarding the
American claims Is clearly indicated
in Finance Minister Lasteyrie's speech
in Tie Senate when he said the allied
had never sought to dis
putc the American claim and that the
whole question is merely one of pro-
the American Gov
ernment should not have addressed
the claim directly to Germany rather
than to tho Allies.
Even should the payment to the
Allies Of the occupation costs be fur
ther tied up by the American claim,
the French will regard this as OF
small Importance beside tie larger
issue OF the total reparations and
whether these payments are to be in
cash or kind. NJ. Lasteyries warning
of the necessity of a French internal
loan TO cover advances made for the
devastated regions on behalf OF Ger
man payments having struck France
aghast.
II has presented tLe issue again to
al F'renchmen on the eve OF impor-
tant political developments in Europe
as to whether they must continue to
advance these sums or tax themselves
for the restoration of their ruins for
which Germany tas promised to paw
Gnutfnuad nm paua T.xo