The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-03-23
EQUAL FOOTING
WITH ALLIES
On That Basis American
Troops We're Sent to
the Rhine
SAYS AMERICAN
NOTE TO ALLIES
Therefore, United States Is
Entitled to Pay Along
With Others

/ Washington, d. c., March 23.-Tht
K American army Of occupation was sent
1 into Germany and was continued there
upon the basis Of the right Of the Unit
ed States to be paid its actual cost
upon an equal footing with the al
4 lies and this government lis unable
ITO conclude that the justice of its claim
4 is not recognized" according to iden-
! tical communication delivered by
/ American diplomatic representatives.
to the governments of Belgium, Great
Britain, France, italy and Japan.
The notes were delivered under in
structions from Secretary Hughes Of
the department Of state. and were oc-
casioned by recent information from
American observers in Europe that the
allied governments apparently con-
tempIated arrangements which would
ignore American army costs altogeth-
err, although estimates both for army
costs and PREPARATIONS we're being made
on the basis Of the entire capacity of
the German government to pay. The
amount Of the claims OF the United
States for its army costs, the notes
declared, was understood to be free
from any substantial dispute, but Il
was deemed to be appropriate, sin
view OF the recent developments" to
acquaint the allied governments with
the repeatedly reiterated statement
that the government of the United
States was expecting full 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 signatory and
which provided for military occupation
Of Germany by the allied and Ameri-
can forces jointly. That agreement,
the notes recited. expressly provided
that the upkeep of the troops of occu
patton In the Rhine districts should
be charged to the German government
and it was expressed as the view Of
the American government that the ar
mistice agreement had the clear i'm
port" that the powers associated in
that joint enterprise should stand
upon an equal footing as to the pay
ment of all the actual costs of their
armies of occupation
Priority of payments for the total
costs Of ali armies Of occupation was
imposed by the treaty of Versailles,
the notes set forth, and since the right
of the United States to share in that
priority was mot expressly condi-
toned" upon ratification of the treaty
by the United States, failure to ratify
should not be construed as affecting
in any way American rights. In shat
connection the notes pointed out that
Germany has explicitly consented TO
the priority of ps yment of the cost of
the American army of occupation, not
withstanding the fact that the treaty
of Versailles has not been ratified by
the United States" and that hence
"any technical objection to the dis
charge of the just claim Of the United
Safes 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 forth that the total
cost of all armies of occupation from
Nov. IL, 1918, to May !, 1921, amount