The Washington herald., 1922-03-23

! United States shall have and enjoy
the rightS and advantages stipu-
lated for the beneit OF the United
States in the treaty of Versailles.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
treaty has not been ratified by the
United States.
States entertains the view, and
submits II to the consideration Of
the allied governments, that the
ment OF the costs OF its army OF oc-
cupation pani passu with the allied
governments. and that payments
I received by them from Germany in
| the circumstances disclosed cannot
he used to the exclusion Of the
United States without its consent.
THE governpent of the United
states is unable to conclude that
the justice of its claim Is not fully
recognized. The governments of
the allied powers will not be un-
mindful of the fact that the gov
ernment of the United States has
repeatedly and earnestly been So
licited not to withdraw Its army
| of occupation. and this army has
been continued upon the basis Of
the right to be paid its actual cost
upon an equal footing with the
allies. But, while II is believed that
the allied governments cannot fail
to appreciate the manifest equity
of the claim OF the United States,
it is understood that 1t has been
suggested that there are technical
| difficulties which stand in the way
| of its recognition. While willing
to take into full consideration every
possible question. this government
is unable to flnd any such technical
| obstacle.
Puts Question Up to Allies.
1T Is assumed that - any tech
nical question were raised. II would
be based upon the fact that the
United States has not ratified the
treaty of Versailles. 1t may be
pointed out. however. that Germany
has explicitly consented to the pri-
ority of payment of the cost of the
American army occupation, not
withstanding the fact that the
treaty of Versailles has not been
ratified by the United States. Hence,
any technical objection to the ap-
plcation of the payments made by
Germany to the discharge of the
| just claim of the United States for
the cost OF its army of occupation
upon the ground that the United
States had not ratified the treaty OF
Versailles, would necessarily rest.
not upon any action or lack Of ac-
tion on the part of Germany, but
solely upon the refusal Of the gov
ernments OF the allied powers them
/ selves to-permit the discharge of an
Z Hdmitt n11N nntIitnhln oil I,,L
/ to seek to maintain in their behalf
exclusively a first charge upon all
the assets and revenues Of the Ger
man empire and its constituent
states for demands eXhausting the
! full capacity of the German govern
ment to pay. The government OF
/ the United States finds it impOshible
/ to conceive that any such attitude
would he taken by the allied gov
ernments.
! The Government Of the United
! States believes that it's right to pri-
| ority of payment for its actual army
| costs. upon an equal footing with
the Allied Powers. is not in any
way affected by its failure to ratify
the treaty of Versailles. The right
/ of the United States to share in this
/ priority was not expressly con-
ditioned. and in view OF the nature
/ Of the claim and Of the fact that
the treaty purported to create a
first charge upon all the assets and
revenues of the German Empire
should not be construed as being
conditioned. upon the ratification of
! the treaty by the United States. II
may be noted that the treaty was
/ to come into force on the ratifiCa-
tion on the part of Germany and OF
/ three OF the principal Allied and
Associated Powers. BY Article 251.
quoted above. there is provision for
/ priority OF the cost of the armies
I Of occupation during the armistice
I and its extensions and the cost OF
any armies of occupation after the
| coming into force of the treaty.
This would seem clearly to embrace
| the cost OF the army of occupation
maintained by the United States
Would Welcome Suggestion.
The Government of the United
states believes that it's right to be
paid the actual cost of its army OF
occupation pari passu with the cost
of the armies of the Allied Powers
is not only a clearly equitab BILE right
but is free from any technical OBJ
lection.
This government will welcome
any suggestion from the allied gov
e-nments for the reasonable ad-
justment of this matter. Upon re-
ceiving assurances of payment this
government will be only too happy
to proceed to the consideration OF
suitable means by which its just
| claim may be satisfied. Pending
such consideration and adjustment
this government earnestly hopes
that the allied governments will be
disposed to refrain from giving ef-
feet to any arrangements 70: the
distribution of cash payments re-
ceived from Germany to the exclu-
sion of the claim OF the United
/ states"