, 1923-03-22
COST OF ARMY DUE U. g.

Washington, March 20 "The
American people should not get the
impression that the United States
in pressing its claim for reimburse
ment for the cost of our army OF
occupation, is asking for a part of
the reparations that ought to go to
the countries hat suffered the devas-
tation OF war" says the Republican
Publicity Association, through its
President, Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr.
Under the Versailles Treaty, the
first charge against receipts from
Germany was to be the cost of the
armies Of occupation, dating from
the signing of the armistice. Those
payments were to be made to the
Principal Allied and Associated
Powers, of which the United States
was named as one. Furthermore,
the separate treaty ratified between
the United States and Germany spe-
officially reserved all the rights OBJ
tanned through both the armistice
agreement and the Versailles Treaty.
Our troops were left on the Rhine at
the request of the Allies.
"The validity of the American
claim not only has never been ques-
toned by the Allies, but it has been
endorsed without qualification by
both Great Britain and France. On
March 90 of last year Lord Curzon
wrote Ambassador Harvey hat the
claim is n which His Majesty's
government would not in any cir
cumstances desire to question On
April /, 1922, Ambassador Herrick
cabled the State Department that he
had just been informed by the
Erannh ENraiur nff;nn that th1
French government never had inten-
ton of contesting the right of the
United States to be as completely
reimbursed for their army costs as
the other governments with troops
on the Rhine
But the fact Is that payments
have already been received from Ger
many to cover the total cost Of all
the armies of occupation. They
amount to about $500, 900, 900 gold
marks, half represented by cash pay
ments, and the rest by payments in
kind. In spite OF reminders from
Secretary Hughes that this country
would insist on its share, all Of those
payments have been absorbed by the
European powers, and no attention
seems to have been paid to the
American claim of about 1000, OOO.-
600 gold marks ($25O,OOO ,OOO). The
only sort of an explanation that has
been forthcoming is that the Allies
needed the money badly. and 80 dis
tributed 1t all among themselves.
The success Of Assistant Secre-
tary Wadsworth's effort 10 collect
the money will test the European
sense of international Justice. Great
Britain, France and the others have
continually urged the entrance of the
United States into the league of ma
tons. and they were all tubilant
when President Harding asked the
Senate for authority to become asso-
ciated with the World Court at The
Hague. But here is a ease that re-
quires neither the league nor the
court to determine. 1t is based en-
tirely on facts attested by docu-i
ments signed by the Interested
parties. Opinion does not enter the
matter at all.
The Allies collected n sum of
money part of which they received
for us. as part owners and they
have thus far appropriated it all to
their own use. Such n disposition
OF the money. II made by private
individuals in personal business re-
l%ations. would be Illegal in any OF
the countries that have benefited by
the failure to pay the United States
its due portion. The ethics govern
ing international relations are not
materially different from those which
govern h relations of men in their
private business affairs"