Omaha daily bee., 1922-03-23
u. S. Insists.
onPaylnent.
of Its Claim.
Stand of Government Regard.
ing Army of Occupation Set
Forth in Note to Euro.
pean Nations.
Provided Under Treaty
ny The A.sas lated rrels.


Washington, March -. - The
American army OF occupation was
sent into Germany and was continued
there upon the basis OF the right oi
the United States 10 be paid rs
actual cost upon an equal footing
with our allies" and this government
rs unable 10 conclude that the JUS
tice OF IFS claim is not fully reeog-
niyed." according 10 identie eommun-
ieations delivered by American
diplomatic representatives 10 the gov
ernmenis OF Belgium. Great Britain.
France. Italy and Japan.
The notes were delivered under in
structions from Secretary Hughes Of
the Department oi State, and were
ueeasioned By recent information
from American observers in Europe
that the allied governments appar-
entity contemplated arrangements
which would ignore American army
costs altogether, although estimates.
both for army costs and rcparations
were being made on the basis OF the
entire capacity OF the German gov
ernmcnt to pay.
Expect Full Payment.
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, "in
view of recent Developments" to ac-
quaint the allied governments with
the repeatedly reiterated statement
that the government of the United
Stacs was expecting full paymnt OF
the costs OF its army in the Rhine
land.
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 occupa-
ton of Germany by the allied and
American forces jointly. That agree
ment, the notes recited, expressly
provided that the upkeep OF the
troops of occupation i'll the Rhine
districts should be charged to the
German government and 1t was eX-
pressed as the view OF the American
government that the armistice agree
ment had the clear import that the
powers associated in that joint en-
terprise should stand upon an equal
footing as to the payment OF all the
actual costs OF their armies OF oc-
cupation.'
Payment Provided in Treaty.
Priority OF payment for the total
cost of all 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 not expressly
conditioned" upon ratification OF the
treaty by the United States, failure
to ratify should not be construed as
affecting. in any way. American
rights.
In that connection the notes point
ed out that Germany has explicitly
consented to the priority OF payment
OF the cost Of the American army
of occupation. notwithstanding the
fact that the treaty of Versailles has
not been ratified by the United
States, and that hence "any techni-.
cal objection to the discharge OF
the just claim 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 tech
nical objection.
Big Sum Due U. S.
The notes set forth that the total
cost OF all armies of occupation from
November II, 1918, to May !, 1921.
amounted to 29,S20,00O gold
marks, that the amounts due to Bel
giuru, France and Italy for their
army costs for that period had been
paid in full, and that the unpaid bal
ancc due May l, 1921, amounted to
1,o60,0o0,000 gold marks, Of which
eo6,574,o00 gold marks were due to
the United States and the remainder
due the British empire.
IT was pointed out, also, that the
British government had received
150,6o6,000 gold marks between May
| and December 81, 1921, and that
the payment was expressly made
and received subject to the rights of
the United States"
In conclusion, the notes stated
that the American government would
welcome any suggestions from the
allied governments "for the reason
able adjustment of this matter" and
the powers were informed that
upon receiving assurances of pay
ment." this government would be
"only too happy to proceed to the
consideration of suitable means" by
.L;.L -. claims MIGHT he eatisfied