763.72119/8567: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Wallace)
71. Your No. 19, January 3.22
Mission. The Government of the United States can not acquiesce in decision of the Council that as soon as Treaty of Peace goes into force between Allied Governments and Germany, the jurisdiction [Page 33] of the Interallied Rhineland High Commission, to be created under the Rhineland Agreement signed June 28, 1919, will extend over all the territories-on left bank of Rhine, including those occupied by American troops.
The views of this Government are that while, upon the Treaty of Peace coming into force, the Armistice, except for provisions specifically continued in force, will terminate as between Germany and the Powers ratifying the Treaty, it nevertheless continues in force as to the United States.
Until the Treaty of Peace with Germany and the Rhineland Agreement are ratified by the United States, the belligerent rights of this Government in the Rhenish territory occupied by its forces under the Armistice, can in no way be affected or limited by agreements between the Allied Governments and Germany, not ratified by, and therefore not binding upon the United States.
This Government, therefore, can not agree that the jurisdiction of the Rhineland Commission to be created upon the coming into force of the Treaty, will extend at this time over American troops or the Rhenish territory occupied by them, but nevertheless it will be disposed, should the Allied Governments so desire, to have an American representative unofficially present at the meetings of the Commission to be created, and, in so far as practicable, cause to be put into effect concurrently in the American zone of occupation measures similar to those to be adopted by the Commission for the portions of the Rhenish territory occupied by the Allied Governments provided the measures do not conflict or exceed the terms of the armistice.
Communicate above to the Council. Also inform General Allen, in response to his telegram of January 2,23 and Noyes, in answer to his telegram transmitted with your 48, January 6,23 advising them that they will be more fully instructed later.