RHINE ARMY BILL

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At Paris, America is conferring with the Reparations Commission to effect a settlement of the United States Rhine Army Bill. America claims $250,000,000 for the maintenance of the army on the Rhine and demands cash payments. Although Germany is responsible for the upkeep of the Allied armies of occupation on the Rhine under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, it is quite impossible for her to pay anything at present. The American proposition that the Allies should find the money from payments received from the Reparations Commission has met with a flat refusal, and Wadsworth has declined to accept payment in kind—an alternative Allied proposal. As France, having received the lion's share of the payments made through the Reparations Commission will be most affected, Great Britain has left the settlement of the question in French hands. The position at present is that an offer whereby America will receive a percentage of all future payments made by Germany has been transmitted to Washington. Although the prospects of settlement by this means look extremely remote, there seems no other way.