The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-04-03
THE RHINE
OCCUPATION ACCOUNT.


TO be an impression in Europe, shared
by some editors in tibet United States
that Secretary Hughes exhibited 4
lack of diplomatic tatct in presenting
the claim of this country for REIN
bursement of the cost of maintaining
the American army on the Rhine"
says the Republican Publicity Associ-
alton, through its President, Hon.
Jonathan Bourne, Jr. 1.-THE view IL
tutken that the American observer
present at the meeting Of THE allied
finance ministers waited until they
had reached an agreement for divi-
sion of the first billion gold marks re-
ceived from Germany, and then step
ped in with demand of priority Off
the American claim of s241 100000.
We'll, let us see. The American
claim for payment of THE costs of the
American army of occupation was
based originally on the terms of the
Armistice of November II, 1918
which said that German territory was
to be occupied by the Allied and Unit
ed States forces jointly 1t was then
stipulated that the upkeep of the
troops shall be charged to the Ger
man government Later the Versail-
les treaty provided that out of repara-
tions the expenses of the armies OF
occuparticn shall first be met The
/ United States did not become a party
TO that treaty. but under 1.-THE terms OF
the separate treaty between this coun-
try and Berlin the United States en-
pressly reserves all rights, privileges,
indemnities, reparations, or advant-
ages 10 which it became entitled I'M
der thee terms of the armistice, or
which, under the Treaty of Versailles
have been stipulated for its benefit
Orr troops were left in German terri
tory at the urgent request OF England
and France on the plea that American
troops would be more effective than
allied forces in preserving peace
Those nations then agreed to see the
, United States reimbursed
at may be said that the Hughes de-
mand should have been directed to
Germany. But he was confronted with
state of affairs. Germany can make
no financial move except with the
consent of the allies, who are on the
ground with their reparations COM
! mission. Every bit of war indemnity
goes through that commission. We
have no disposition to find faul with
that arrangement so long as 1t does
not infringe upon American rights
under THE Berlin Treaty. When the
commission does interfere with those
rights, It is the duty of the Secretary
Of State to protect them.
"Now, as to the abruptness of Mr..
Hughes action. The fact is that he
strained diplomatic practice to the
limit in giving the allied ministers OPP
portunity to take cognizance of the
American claim without the necessity
of any reminder from Washington. Up
to tibet very last minute, when the
agreement for division of the repara-
lions payment was about to be signed,
Mr.. Hughes remained silent, but when
1t became apparent that tibet United
States was to be ignored entirely he
stepped in and recalled to the minds
of the ministers the stipulations
which should have governed their ac-
ttions. Even then theer was no insist
ence on immediate payment, but only
on an official recognition of the Amer
lean claim.
"This whole incident is but another
manifestation of THE desire Of certain
foreign ministers to shut tibet United
States off from any share in thte vic
tory won in 1918. What this country
has done in thte way fmoney loans
and supplies sent to THE devastated
regions since the war is sufficient
proof that tibet United States has nc
grasping procliyities. Other nations
have seized former German territory
and other spoils Of war, while this
country has been content with vindi-
eating its international rights. We
intend, however, to collect the ordin-
airy obligations due us from abroad.