The New York herald., 1922-03-12

COPYRIGHT, 1929, By THE NHw YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris, March IL.
The allied finance ministers here to-
day refused to grant the demand Of
tie United States for priority in the
distribution Of reparations to cover
the cost of the American occupation
the diplomatic phrase Subject to the
rights of the United States" to their
ratification of the reparations ar
rangement whereby the billion gold
marks in question is to go to the all
lied nations.
Allied opinion here is that America
should ratify the treaty of Versailles
If she wants any of the money COL
lected by the Preparations Commission.
or she should appeal direct to Berlin
under Ter own treaty reminding Ger
many that she paid only 100000. 900
gold marks instead of 12,000,000, 900
as provided by the treaty of Ver-
sailles.
The argument of Rowland w. Boy
den, American observer, before the
finance ministers yesterday only re-
suited to-day in the subject to rights"
phrase and the American claim will
be forwarded for doubtless long diplo-
matte study by the allied Ministers of
Foreign Affairs.
1t Is realized here that the American
demand Is far more than mere applica-
tion for s241. .000.00b. Even conserva-
tive officials at the Foreign Office and
the equally conservative Temps admi,
that it opens unexpectedly and possibly
dangerously the whole question Of how
far the treaties OF Versailles and Berlin
can be made to interiock.
Question for Diplomacy.
The question is to be taken from the
hands of both the Reparations Commits
sion and the Finance Ministers to be
subjected to the diplomatic routine Sc
cherished by Premier Poincare, the Pre-
mier supporting the contention of NJ
Lasteyrie, Minister OF Finance. that the
American note Is one solely for the at
tention of the Foreign and not the Fl
nance Ministry.
In fact the correspondent of THE New
YORK HERALD to-day found a tendency
10 consider the American demand as
undiplomatic. Some say IL should have
come through Ambassador Herrfck tc
the Ministry OF Foreign Affairs 60 be
transmitted to the conference rather
than In the person OF an unofficial OBJ
server OF the Reparations Commission
days confe n
The action has served to accentuate
the peevishness displayed since the
United States refused to attend the
Genoa conference. The tone OF the press
Is frankly unpleasant, with abundant
references 10 Americas mercenary spirit.
Even the Temps does not hesitate 10
point out that IL the United States ever
does ratify the treaty OF Versailles her
rights will become effective only from
the date OF ratification. In other words
her claims are permanently secondary
to those of the Allies IL the treaty Is TO
be invoked.
a French member of the Reparations
Commission said: II cannot understand
Americas attitude. Taking cash from
Europe at the very time II Is needed to
restore the confidence of our own people
and at the very moment that the United
States Is complaining that we are not
getting along with the reparations seems
incongruous.- America already has too
much gold. A billion In Europe would
improve exchange rates and enable the
nations here to purchase from the United
States"
A british Statement.
A British official said America Is
urging us to show the utmost considera-
tion for German. Why, then. does
America show such intransigeance
toward the Allies?'
A member OF the Paris Chamber Of
Commerce customs commission declared
Continued on Page Ten.