The New York herald., 1922-06-11
Nobody Knows When Bill for
$3.50, 100000 Due Is
to Be Met.
DEBT IS ACKNOWLEDGED
Allies Say 1t Will Not Be For
gotten in Reparation
Settlements.
Speciu, Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
Nan, Xcrlr III R,,r~ou }

pPeetos DtoPutcft 70 NE VIEW ionh aiEflhbDs
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c., June 10.
With the decision to keep 1000
american troops on the Rhine-for
the present, at least-the United
States Government is patiently await
ing a check from Europe for approx
mately $25o,OOo.OoO. constituting the
cost of maintaining the Army of Oc-
cupation in Germany since the arnlis-
tice.
When this money is going to be
paid nobody knows, although official
reassurances have come from Great
Britain. France and Belgium that the
claim is fair and just and will not be
forgotten when it comes to dividing
the German money received from time
to time as reparation payments.
While the American Government
would be glad to be paid in full, still
the State Department realizes that
European affairs are in a muddle
Nothing will be done to cause en-
barrassment.
The full amount of the American
claim $255, 900 900. by far the greater por'
ton Of which was for maintaining the
army from the time of the armistice
on November II, 1918. to May ]. 1921
when a bill for sal, 900 900 was submitted
From that time forward the cost of the
troops was slightly in excess. as an
average, of 81, 900 month. although
now, with only 1000 troops on the Rhine
it is not much moro than $looVo a
month.
No Doubt of Obligation.
The recent American demand for a
settlement was not so much to get the
money quickly, as there never was
much chance Of that, as to get the
allied nations to recognize that the
United States had to be considered. Evi'
dence had come to Washington that the
allied nations were dividing the German
reparations without regard to the agree
ment that the United States army costs
were to be met by Germany. as with
the other nations. The allied countries
it seemed, intended to take advantage
of the fact the United States had not
ratified the Treaty Of Versailles, al
though morally as well as legally undel
the armistice, there was no doubt as
to the obligation.
The British, French and Belgian Gov
ernments have stated they would confer
and determine some method of securing
to the United States its share OF Ger
man payments on account Of army oc'
cupation. The United States is SUI
waiting. In the meantime, no word has
been received from either Italy or Japar
relative to the American claim.
When Secretary OF State Hughes dis
turbed the pleasure of European exist
ence by calling attention to the fact the
United States was being ignored In the
ALLEGATION of the German payments
President Harding followed 1t up by
curtly announcing that all American
troops would be Withdrawn from the
Rhine It was this feature OF the situ-
alton which created the greatest storm
No one wanted the American troops en-
trely withdrawn. not even the Germans
Since then the most vigorous pressure
has been brought upon the United States
to keep some Of its troops in Germany
by both France and England, and more
especially by the FORMER. The neces-
sity for this was increased, 1t was al
legged, by the failure Of the Genoa
conference to reach an agreement.
In making his statement Of the Ameri-
can claim, Secretary Hughes, in his note
addressed to all of the allied Powers. un-
der date of March %, said:
"It appears that the total cost OF all
the armies of occupation from Novem'
ber II. 1918. to May I. 1921. amounted
to 900 gold marks; that the
amounts due to Belgium. France and