Evening star., 1922-03-11
$241,0)0,0DO CLAIM
DEMANDED BY US.
SURPRISES ALLIES
American Note Expected to
Be Referred to Repara-
tions Body.
CAUSES HURRIED CALLS
FOR ADVICE BY ENJOYS
French Semi-0 Official Says It Tum.
bles Scheme Laboriously
Erected.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS. March 11.-Best informa-
ton in French and British official
circles today was to the effect that
the American claim for reimburse
ment Of 241,000.000 for expenses of
the American forces in the Rhineland
before any reparations are paid will
be referred to the reparations COM
mission without specific recommen-
dations.
The allied finance ministers, to
whom the American note was ad-
dressed, discussed the question briefly
at their morning session today, and
it was understood that they would
resume consideration of the note this
afternoon.
Little Chance for Speed.
Allied officials expressed belief that
there was little chance that the Ameri-
can share of the expenses of occupa ton
could be paid out of the first billion
gold marks of German reparations,
since the distribution of this amount
had been settled after laborious dis
cussion, which would have to be be-
gun over again il Americas expenses
were to be paid out of this amount
AT the same time, no one questioned
the right of the United States to
demand her proportionate share.
The unexpected call for payment of
the entire amount with interest, how
ever. took the ministers unawares,
and created situation requiring con-
situations with their respective gov
ernments. Meanwhile it was under
stood. the matter probably would be
left in the hands of the reparations
commission.
Leaves No Doubt.
The memorandum. the text Of which
was made public, states that the cost
of the American army Of occupation
up to May 1. 1921. was about s241.-
100000. It'sets forth that the allied
governments, with the exception, per-
haps. of Great Britain, had received
payment for their armies of occupa-
ton. and that probably the British
also were covered by a preceding ar
| rangement. Therefore, the memoran-
| dunn states, "the United States counts
upon obtaining integral payment for
the cost to May !, with interest. be-
| ments are distributed for reparations
or other object
A French semi official publication says
that the American claim comes exactly
at the moment when the accord based
on the Cannes project was about to
be realized, and that 1t tends to de-
stroy the whole system of repara-
tions SO laboriously erected by the
allied experts.
Too Late, Says Press.
The Echo de Paris declares it is un-
doubtedly too late to give the United
States its share of the 1000. 100000
gold marks paid by Germany on Au-
gust 80 last, as Belgium and England
already have received their allot-
ments. The allies certainly cannot
refuse to give the United States its
due, the newspaper adds, but this
question must be determined: OF
what utility is an American army on
the Rhine IL it isn't in political CO.
operation with the allied govern
ments?"
The Matin thinks the American de-
mand creates a paradoxical situation
in law, because the United States is
at the same time responsible to and
independent of the allies-responsi-
bic in its claims. and Independent in
its politics regarding Germany. with
which it has a separate treaty" The
newspaper declares that il the United
states persists in this claim, the Bel
elan priority and the sums the French
government expects are appreciably dis
counted.