The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-03-25
DEMAND
FOR GERMAN
PREPARATION
Statement Of Claim
by the United States
For Cost of Army cf
Occupation

Washington, March -. Tho
American army Of occupation was
sent into Germany and vas con
tinued there upon the basis of the
right of the United States TO "be
paid its actual cost upon an equal
footing with the allies and this
government lis unable TO conclude
that the justice Of it's claim is not
fully recognized. according 10
Identical communication delivered
today by American diplomatic rep
reScntativeS 70 the governments Of
Belgium. Great Britain, France.
Italy and Japan.
The notes were delivered und =
instructions from Secretary Hughes
and were occasioncd by recent in
formation from American obycrv-
crs in Europe that tho allied GOV
ernments apparently contemplated
arrangements which would is-
more American army costs alto
scther.
The amount Of the claims Of the
United States for its army cost. the
note declared. was understood TO be
free from any substantial diSp"tc.
but it was deemed to be appro-
pirate. lin view Of recent develop
meuts, TO acuuaint the alned gov
ernmeyts with the repeatedly re-
iterated statement that the gov
crnmcnt of the United States was
expecting for payment OF the costs
Of its army in the Rhineland
Basis for the american claim.
the notes pointed out, was found
in the armiStice agreement to which
the United States was siSnatory.
and which provided for military
occupation Of Germany by the al
led and american forces jointly.
That agreement. the notes recited,
expressly provided that the up
keep OF the troops Of occupation
in the Rhine districts should be
charged to the German govern
ment and it was expressed as the
view OF the american government
that the arnlisticc agreement had
the clear import" that the pow
crs associated in that Joint enter
prise should stand upon an equal
footing as to the payment Of all
the actual costs Of their armies Of
occupation"
Priority payment for the total
cost of all armies of occupation
was imposed by the treaty Of Yer
sailles. the notes set forth. and
since the right Of the United States
to share in that priority was mot
expressly conditioned" upon rati-
fication of the treaty by the United
States failure to ratify should not
be construed as affecting III any
way American rights. In that con-
nection. the notes pointed out that
Germany has explicitly consented
TO the priority of payment OF the
cost of the American army Of occu-
patton. Notwithstanding the fact
that the treaty. of Versailles mas no,
been ratified by the United States
and that hence any technical Oh
lection to the discharge OF the
just claims Of the United States
would necessarily rest solely upon
the refusal Of the allied powers
themselves to permit the discharge
OF an admittedly equitable claim
and it was insisted that the rights
Of America were free from any
technical objection.
The notes set torti, that tho total
cost OF all armies Of occupation
from November II. 1918, to May
!. 1921. amounted to 3.63s.292.-
600 gold marks. that the amounts
due to Belgium. France and Italy
tor their army costs for that pc
riod had been paid in full and that
the unpaid balance due May l.
1921. amounted TO l.66O, 100000
gold marks. cf which 9S6.3, 1000
gold marks were due the United
States and the remainder due the
British empire. 1t was pointed
OUT. also. that the British govern
mcnt had received l3D.G96.00o gold
marks between May and Deem
Der 81. 1921. and that the pay
ment was expressly made and re-
ceivcd subject to the rights OF the
J-,,i+a,l Stn tpS