bis instructions were that this matter had to be settled satisfactorily before he would be able to concur in notifying the agreement to the Reparation Commission by the Conference of Ambassadors. He indicated as his view that such notification would in effect be approval, and that before according approval the scope of the agreement should be settled. He indicated confidentially that on this point the British member of the Reparation Commission had to be satisfied. You will please take the first opportunity to give the substance of the foregoing to Lord Curzon and to say to him that the Government of the United States has not presented a claim to share in the Bulgarian payments although, now that the question has arisen, this Government must of course fully reserve its position in the event that a share should not be accorded it. You will state that this Government is at this time merely requesting that the agreement be notified to the commission as soon as this can be done, and indicate that under the circumstances it would clearly be unreasonable if notification were to be held up. The Government of the United States is loath to believe that the Governments by whom the United States was invited to confer on the reimbursement of its admittedly just claim for army costs are now disposed, by raising technical points, to stop the proposed notification. The Government of the United States hopes that the position which has been reported to it does not represent correctly the views of the British Government, and that the British representative at Paris will be appropriately instructed to give his support to prompt notification of the agreement to the commission and the opening of a separate account. Repeat to Embassy, Paris, as Department's no. 387, and keep it and Department advised. HUGHES 462.00 R 294/285: Telegram The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State PARIS, November 8, 1923-5 p.m. [Received November 8-4:45 p.m.] 451. The Conference of Ambassadors this morning without any discussion decided to communicate to the Reparations Commission the text of the agreement relative to the costs of the American army of occupation. The formula adopted was the one proposed by this Embassy. HERRICK 462.00 R 294/291a: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Herrick) [Extract-Paraphrase] WASHINGTON, December 13, 1923-3 p.m. 461. L-23. The Department has given careful consideration to the question of possible American participation in the reparation payments made by Bulgaria and views the situation as follows: (1) An examination of the notes of the conference on army costs indicates that the intent of the parties to the agreement was that, subject to its terms, the United States should share in the cash payments made by Germany or in those made for her account by such neutrals as Denmark or Luxemburg or by Allies receiving excess deliveries in kind, and that no reference was made directly to the question of participation by the United States in Bulgarian reparations as such; Wadsworth confirms this view. (2) The wording of paragraph 3 of article 2 of the army costs agreement appears to the Department to be conclusive that the United States is entitled to share in payments made by Germany or for her account or by or for the account of another country from whom similar payment may be exacted, should the Bulgarian payments in fact be credited to Germany; but it is not certain that the Government of the United States could contend that as a matter of legal right such payments must necessarily be credited to Germany's reparation account. (3) The Department has noted the statement in your letter of October 532 that the liability of Germany's allies is included in Germany's liability of 132 billion gold marks. The Department is not aware of treaty provisions or of agreements which expressly cover this point and it would be glad to have you express your views, particularly with Bulgaria in mind. You will note that the Trianon Treaty and the Treaty of St. Germain are, in their reparation provisions, quite distinct from the provisions of the Treaty of Neuilly; for example, according to article 179 of the Treaty of St. Germain, reference is made to the effect of reparation payments by Germany whereas under article 121 of the Treaty of Neuilly provision is made for direct payment by Bulgaria of a definite sum for the benefit of the interested Powers. (4) Please telegraph comment on the foregoing. "Not printed. HUGHES 462.00 R 294/293: Telegram The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State [Extract-Paraphrase] PARIS, December 19, 1923-11 a.m. 519. L-57. Your L-23, December 13. Department's instructions have been noted in regard to claim on Bulgarian reparation payments for army costs only if these payments are credited to Germany's reparation account. I concur wholly in Department's view that the United States can not demand that these payments be so credited. With reference to paragraph (3) the Department's attention is directed to article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, by which Germany is made responsible for all the damage caused either by her or by her allies and to the schedule of payments of May 3, 1921, which fixes the global sum of all damage at 132 billion gold marks with the express proviso that Germany should receive credit on this grand total with any sums received from other enemy or ex-enemy powers the credit for which the Commission may decide should be given to Germany. As Bulgaria was an ally, Germany is liable under article 231 for damage done by Bulgaria, and this damage is deemed to be included in the total sum of 132 billions; the commission may, in consequence, credit Bulgarian payments to Germany if it choose to do so. Bulgaria receives credit anyway on her separate account. Your reference to article 121 of the Treaty of Neuilly has been noted, but I suggest that the controlling provisions for present purposes are articles 231 and 233 of the Treaty of Versailles and schedule of payments of May 3, 1921. It is entirely feasible both practically and legally to make Germany liable for damages done by Bulgaria without making Bulgaria liable for damages done by Germany, and likewise it is entirely feasible to credit Germany as well as Bulgaria with the amount of Bulgarian payments. No injury could be done to Bulgaria thereby. Telegram in two sections. Logan 462.00 R 294/293: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Herrick) [Paraphrase] WASHINGTON, January 10, 1924—5 p.m. 11. L-37. Your L-57, December 19, 1923. Should the Allies conclude a separate agreement with Bulgaria to provide for the liquidation of the costs of the armies of occupation and commissions of control from sources besides the payments under the reparation protocol and should questions arise regarding the distribution of the funds placed in special account created under paragraph 2 of the commission's decision of September 5 (No. 2629)** as amended, you may at your own discretion appropriately support the view that reparation payments by Bulgaria be credited by the Reparation Commission to Germany's reparation account by authority of article 1, schedule of payments. HUGHES WITHDRAWAL OF THE AMERICAN ARMY OF OCCUPATION" AND OF THE UNOFFICIAL OBSERVER ON THE INTERALLIED RHINELAND HIGH COMMISSION 862T.01/526a: Circular telegram The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Herrick) WASHINGTON, January 10, 1923—1 p.m. For your information. The Secretary has today announced that, in the judgment of the President, the time has come to carry out the complete withdrawal of American troops on the Rhine. Appropriate instructions are being sent to General Allen. The British, French, German, Belgian and Italian Ambassadors have been so advised. Repeat to London, Berlin, Brussels, Rome, Lausanne. HUGHES 862T.01/561 Memorandum by the Secretary of State of a Conversation with the German Ambassador (Wiedfeldt), January 23, 1923 [Extract] The German Ambassador said that in view of the departure of the American forces from Germany today his Government had "Not printed. 25 For previous correspondence concerning American Army of Occupation, see Foreign Relations, 1922, vol. 1, pp. 211 ff. instructed him to express to the Secretary the sincere thanks of the German Government for the correct conduct of the American troops during the time of occupation. 862T.01/562 : Telegram The Unofficial Observer on the Interallied Rhineland High Commission (Allen) to the Secretary of State COBLENZ, January 27, 1923-7 p.m. [Received January 29-9: 58 a.m.] American zone turned over at noon to French authorities. Five minutes later all train service tributary to Coblenz ceased. French now hold Coblenz station with troops. Customs barrier around Ruhr basin backed by infantry, tanks and artillery, will be completed by [garbled group]. This should stop or control all coal going into unoccupied Germany. Kilmarnock 36 does not yet know whether the British troops will be withdrawn. If withdrawn, and British representative at commission also withdrawn, it is considered that legal existence of commission would end. That would bring a purely military occupation to which present measures are tending. Our personal relations with all French military and civil officials continue excellent. Exceptionally friendly attitude shown by all nationalities to few remaining Americans. Understood that passive resistance including strikes in mines and on railways at stated intervals at vital points, here and there is directed from Münster. 862T.01/5778: Telegram ALLEN The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Herrick) 47. For General Allen. WASHINGTON, January 31, 1923-7 p.m. (1) Now that American forces have been withdrawn from the Rhineland, Department has decided to withdraw its observer with the Rhineland High Commission. Accordingly, you should take the earliest available occasion to present the following statement to the Commission : "I am instructed by my Government to announce to you my retirement as unofficial observer with the Interallied Rhineland High Commission. My Government has maintained an unofficial observer with the Commission in order that it might be properly advised when promulgating regulations in the American zone of occupation, of the actions and general purposes of the Commission. In view of the with "Lord Kilmarnock, British High Commissioner. |