Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-03-13
Instructions Will Soon be
issued to Wadsworth
In Paris
HAVE ALL DATA
Hughes Holds That U. S.
Has Rightful Claim to
Portions That Have
Been Paid
(By Isaac Gregg

Wy VI NSf,f
Washington, March 13.-The
United States government will
soon issue instructions to Eliot
Wadsworth, Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury now in Paris, to
insist that payments for the cost
of the American army of occupa-
ton. approximately S250,000,O0O
come pro rata from the payments
that Germany has already made
to the allies in cash and kind.
However, Mr.. Wadsworth will not
be instructed to refuse the OF
fer of the allies to make pay
ments to the United States from
future German payments over
period of ten years, so that nego-
tiations on the subject probably
will result in a deadlock unless
the allies recede from their pre-
sent position, which is extreme
ly unlikely.
This decision has already been
reachted by Secretary Hughes, is
understood, and will be promptly
transmitted to Mr.. Wadsworth.
The decision is based on two
factors: First, that the Unied
States has both moral and legal
right to insist that payments for
the army of occupation be made
pro rata from payments Ger
many has already made, and sec
ond, that to accept the plan of
the allies would in effect put the
United States in the position of
one of the nations attempting to
force collection of reparations
from Germany.
In instructing Mr.. Wadsworth
to insist that the cost of the
army of occupation be paid from
past German payments, this gov
ernment is under no misappre-
hension as to the possibility Of
collecting in that manner. The
German payments in cash and in
and there is little chance that
kind have already been distributed
the nations will give up what
they have already secured. This
government has full data on the
amounts already collected from
Germany and on the amounts, in
cash and kind, distributed to the
various allied nations. These data
show that the cost of the army
of occupation was, up to April
80, 1929, ,066,774,000 gold marks
and that the total German pay
ments to the allies in cash and
in kind up to that date were only
77S,26S, 1893 gold marks. Thus, if
the United States were paid every
cent so far collected in cash
from Germany, there would not
be sufficient to pay for the army
of occupation.
These deliveries in kind, none
Of which went to the United
States, cannot of course be reali-
zed on by the United States for
they went to ten different ma
tions. Germany has paid to tho
allies as of April 80, 1922, but
S,5l3,0O0 gold marks. As a
matter of fact, much Of the Ger
man payments carried under the
head of Cash and Securities" was
of nature to preclude its allot-
ment to other than the nations
which actually receive it. Thus
the allies, on March II. 1922,
found themselves with only 220,-
100000 gold marks in cash which
was divided among them on the
basis Of the number of electives
in the army of occupation Of each
after the sum Of 10,950,000 gold
marks had been allotted to Great
Britain to cover the higher cost
of maintenance of her soldiers.
1t was against this arrangement.
which did not include the United
States, that Secretary Hughes or
iginally protested and it is on the
basis of this arrangement that he
is sending the present instruc-
tions to Mr.. Wadsworth.
After the United States gov
ernment heard of the plan arrang-
ed by the allies on March II,
1922. Secretary Of State Hughes.
March 2l Sent an identical note
couched in forcefuI language, in
sisting that the United States
had right to share in the di
vision arranged.
Premier Poincare of France
hastened to assure the United
(Cnpfipuad IN naOa ciyl