The Washington herald., 1922-03-14
Nation Insists on Rights,
And May Withdraw
Troops From Rhine.
POSITION OF PARIS
DEEMED ABSURD
Yanks Have Maintained
Stability in Germany
Asserts Weeks. =

The Harding administration IS
wrought up over the action Of the
allied reparations commission in
ignoring the American S24I OOo. 900
claim on German assets as rein-
burscment for cOs-aI the American
army Of occupation on the Rhine
and in proceeding to divide UP the
German 100000. 600 gold mark
payment without reference 10 the
United States.
The administration does not in.
tend TO take the rebuff lying down.
it was learned yesterday, and win
have some forcefuI representations
to make to the allies. Not alto
gether unlikely also is an acceler-
ated withdrawal Of American troops
from the Rhine. il not a decision
to discontinue maintenance Of any
forces in Germany.
Heeded Allies Plea.
Under the terms Of the armistice.
il was stated authoritatively. the
allied armies Of occupation remained
in Germany with the explicit un-
derstandinE that the costs were to
be paid by Germany. The United
States did not wish to keep its
forces on the Rhine and had no d.
rect interest in doing so. but upon
the urgent representations OF the
allies that those forces were neces-
sary to maintain good order. con-
sented. II there had been no treaty.
no reasonable person could contend
that the allies would he justified in
taking all the assets Of Germany
without making some provision for
reimbursinE the United tSates. Such
a contention would have no justi-
fcatiOn either in morals or in law.
As a matter Of fact. the allies did
not a: that time make any such
contention. They drew up a treaty
taking account OF the terms Of the
armistice and the provisions therein
Tor payment "f the costs of main
tanning the armies Of occupation.
I They made the claims for reim-
bursement Of these costs a first lien
on the assets Of Germany.
Regard Position as Absurd.
In view Of these facts. this gov
trnmcnt regards the nosition sug-
Cested in dispatches from Paris as
indefensible and absurd. For rea-
sons that are we'll known 10 the
world. the United states did not
ratify the treaty of Versailles. but
that has nothing to do with tho
present situation. There is no ques-
tion NJ machinery Of collection" in
| volved.
As for the contention that the
United States has not assumed OBJ
| legations imposed by the treaty Of
! Versailles. il is to be noted that
practically tho only portions "r that
treaty not incorporated into the
treaty Of Berlin are those respect
( ing boundaries in Europe and such
/ other matters as are Of concern
| only TO European nations.
1t is difficult for this government
to understand statements from
abroad that the American claim
came as a surprise u the allies The
| United States has maintained all
| along that the costs Of the army OF
occupation must be paid. II has
taken that position from the first
and has never reCeded from II. The
question Of reimbursement for the
! forces on the Rhine has already
| been regarded as n matter entirely
separate from the question Of Jiebts
Of the allied countries TO the United
States and il has b"cn perfectly
well known that whatever DISPOSE
tions might be made with respect
to funding the debts. that payment
would he demanded Tor the costs OF
maintaining that army.
The question is expected 10 come
before the reparationS commission
at its meeting in Paris this week.
At the same time it is before the
various home governments. having
been referred to them by the finance
commissioners, following their
meeting.
Secretary weeks Explains.
This government. il was indicat-
ed, would be averse to any attempt
to reopen a discussion of tho rels-
tions Of this government under the
treaty Of Versailles as a result OF
the Rhine army request The obIi-
cation. il was held. is plain aud
cannot be avoided. and no attempt
to obscure the question would sue
ceed.
Should IL become necessary for
this government TO negotiate with
Germany. IL was pointed out. there
might develop conflict with the Yer
sailles treaty. since that document
constitutes a first mortgage on all
German assets Tho final guarantee
Of payment by Germany is $500
100000 worth of alien property
still held.
The explanation Of Secretary
Weeks for the maintenance Of the
Rhine army has just been made
public in testimony before the
House Appropriations Committee.
Secretary Weeks was asked why
troops were kept in Europe
Tended TO Stability.
The reason has been" Weeks
| said, that IL was believed by the
countries having forces on the
Rhine and by our government that
their presence produced a stability
of value.
We have been to a degree an um-
pire and very many matters lave
been smoothed out by the commsn-
der of our forces which otherwise
might have brought about serious
condition"
The total expense Of mainia ing
the American army up 1" September
30 Of last year was S"SS.ooo.""" Z
was learned. Of which $%a.noo.o0O
] has been paid.