Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-23


lean army. j, was deemed advisable
again to- direct attention 10 the posi-
ton Of the United States. The gov
eminent OF the Cnited States has
been advised that all til. arrange
ments or the finance ministers have
been made subject To the rights Of
the United states and that these min
listers have also suggested t:at the
government of the United states
should take up the question Directs
win the governments concerned.
tpkcep Charged to Germany.
The armistice agreement con-
ciuded between the allied and as
sociatcd governments ard Germany
on November II. 1918. provided for
military occupation by the allied
and United states forces jointly.
and u was expressly provided tina,
The upkccp OF the troops Of oc-
cupation in the Rhine districts tcx-
Guiding Alsace -Iorraine) shall he
charged TO the German government
1T Is not believed that the mean
Ing Of this agreement can be re-
Sardcd as doubifu!. II had not only
its express provision hut it's ncccs
sary implications. 1t is the view of
this government. and IL ~ confidently
believed that IL is the view % ali
the governments concerned. that t.:iS
agreement on the part Of the hlIic.l
and associated governments with
Germany. and with each other, had
he clear import that the powers as
soc!atcd In this joint enterprise
should stand upon an equal footing
as to the payment az all the actual
costs OF their armies or occupation
and that none OF the powers could,
consistently with the agreement
a
ferent;ai or exclusive right Of pay
mcnt Further. il IS assumed that
II would not for moment be- con-
tended that any Of the allied powers
would have b"cn entitled TO enter
INTO any arrangement, by which "a!
81" assets or revenues OF the Ger
man empire and !ts constituent states
would be taken FOR their benefit to
III" exclusion OF any OF the other
powers concerned.
Included All Expenses.
1t was apparently in recognition
OF the existing and continuing obli-
cation as To army costs. that, in the
treaty of Versailles, in undertaking
place" frs; charge upon all tn
assets and revenues OF the German
empire and its constituent states"
tartic!e 2is) priority was given to
the total cost OF all armies OF the al
lied and associated governments in
occupied German territory from the
date OF tic signature of the armistlce
agreement.
ARTICLES 24o and PSI of the treaty
OF Versailles provide:
Article 2i3: There shall he maid
by the German government the total
cost OF ali armies OF the allied and
associated governments in occupied
German territory from the dat" OF
IN" signature Of the armlstIcr OF No
vemhcr II. ISIS. including the keep
OF men and beasts. lodging and billet
Ing. pay and allowances. salaries and
wages. bedding. heating. lighting.
clothing. equipment. harness and sad
dlcry. armament and rolling stock
mir services, treatment Of Sick and
wounded. veterinary and rcmount
services, transport scrvic. of all sorts
tsuch as by rail. sea or river. mo-
tor lorr!cs). communications and
correspondence and in general the
cost Of all administrative or technical
services the working OF which is ne
ceSsary FOR the training of troops
and for keeping their numbers up To
strength and preserving their mill
tary efficiency. "
Article 2"l; Tn" priority of the
charges established by article 24S
shall. subject to the qualifications
made below. be a. follows:
"'6N. The cost of the armies OF
occupation as defined under article
2i3 during the armisticc and it's cX-
tensions:
Must Have rs Consent.
'tR). The cost OF any armies OF
occupation as defined under article
2i' after the coming into force OF the
present treaty: y y y.
by the treaty between the United
states and Germany. signed August
20. 1921, the notifications OF which
were exchanged on November II.
1921. II is provided that tho United
states shall HAY" and cnjGr the
rights ana advantages stipulated for
the benefit OF the United stat ., In
the treaty Of Versailles. no,w.i,h
standing the fact that the treaty has
rot been ratified by the United
States
The government; Of the United
states cntcrtains the view. ana sub
mitS il To the consideration of the
billed governments. that the United
states is entitled To payment of the
costs of its army OF OCCUPATION pari
passu with the allied governments
and that payments received hy them
from Germany in the circumstances
disclosed cannot be used to the ex-
ciusion OF the United states without
The government OF the United
states is unable u conclude that TN,
j. sticc OF it's claim Is not fully rccop
niZcd. The governments of the al
lied powers viii not bc unmintful of
the fact that the government Of tho
Cnitcd states has repeatedly and ear
nestly been solicited not To with
draw its army OF occupation. and
ihis army has been continued upon
the basis OF the right to lie paid its
actual cost upon an equal footing
with the allies. But. while IL is
believed that the allied governments
cannot fail to appreciate the mani
fest equity of the claim of the United
states. IL Is understood that il has
hccn suggested that there are tech
nical difficulties which stand in the
way of its recognition. While will
ling to take into full consideration
every possible question. this govern
mcnt IS unable to find any such tech
Meal obstacle.
It IL assumed that if any technical
question were raised 1t would be
based upon the fact that the United
States has not ratified the treaty of
Versailles. 1T may be pointed out.