New-York tribune., 1922-03-23
tho United States without its con
Finds No Technica, Obstacles

Finds No Technical Obstacles
is unable to conclude that tho justice
Of it's claim Is not fully recognized.
}hc governments o. the Allied powers
will not be unmindful of the fact that
the government Of the United States
has repeatedly and earnestly been So
licited not to withdraw it's army Of oc~
cupatiou. and this army has been con-
tinued upon the basis Of tho right TO
be paid it's actual cost upon an equal
footing with the Allies. But, while it
is believed that the Allied governments
cannot fail to appreciate the manifest
equity Of the claim Of the United
States, it is understood that 1t has been
suggested that there are technical diff
iiculties which stand in the way CT its
recognition. While willing to take into
full consideration every possible ques-
tion. this government Is unable to find
any such technical obstacle.
at ie assumed thai II any technical
question were raised it would be based
upon the fact that the United States
has not ratified tho Treaty Of YER
ever that Germany has explicitly con-
sented to The priority Of payment OF
the cost Of the American army Of occu-
patton. notN ithstanding the fact that
the Treaty Of Versailles has not been
ratified by the United States. Hence
any technical objection TO the applica-
ton Of tho payments made by Germany
to the discharge Of the just claim Of
the United States for the cost Of its
army Of occupation, upon the ground
that the United States had not ratified
the Treaty OF Versailles, would neccs-
sarily rest not upon any action or lack
of action on the part Of Germany but
solely upon the refusal Of the govern
mcnts Of the Allied powers themselves
to permit the discharge OF an admit
tediy equitable claim, and thus to seek
to maintain in their behalf exclusively
Il first charge upon all the assets and
revenues of the German Empire and
It's constituent states FOR demands cx-
hausting the Full capacity Of the Ger
nent OF the United States finds it iln-
possible to conceive that any sucl. atti-
tudc would be taken By the Allied GOV
ernments.
Treaty Failure Not Involved
"Thc government of the United
States believes that its right to prior
ity OF payment for its actual army
costs, upon an equa' footing with the
Allied powers, is not in any way af-
fected by its failure to ratify the
United States to share in this priority
was not expressly conditioned, and in
view Of the nature of the claim and of
the fact that the treaty purported to
create first charge upon all the assets
and revenues of the German Empire,
should not be construed as being condi-
toned, upon the ratification of the
treaty by the United States. It may
be noted that the treaty was to come
into force on the ratification on the
part of Germany and of three Of the
principal Allied and associated powers.
By Article 26l, quoted above, there is
provision for priority of tho cost of
the armies Of occupation during the
armistice and it's extensions, and the
cost of any armies of occupation after
the coming into force of the treaty.
This would seem clearly to embrace the
cost Of the army of occupation main
tanned by the United States.
Held Clearly Equitable Right
"Thc government OF the United
States believes that its right to be paid
the actual cost Of its army Of occupa-
tion pari passu with the cost Of the
armies of the Allied powers is not only
q clearly equitable right, but is free
from any technical objection.
"This government will welcome any
suggestion from the Allied govern
ments for the reasonable adjustment Of
this matter. Upon receiving assurances
of payment this government will be
cnly too happy to proceed to the con-
sidcration Of suitable means by which
its just claim may be satisfied. Pend
ing such consideration end adjustment,
this government earnestly hopes that
the Allied governments will be dis
posed TO refrain from giving effect to
any arrangements for the distribution
Of cash payments received from Ger
many to the exclusion OF the claim Of
the United States"