862t.01/380
President Harding to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have yours of March 27th,41 enclosing to me a paraphrase of the message received from General Allen.42 [Page 216] His statement concerning the manifest wish of the Germans for continued American occupation is quite in harmony with information which has come to me from an unofficial source. Later developments concerning the attitude of the Allies in recognizing the American claim for compensation for the Army of Occupation will make it quite possible to continue a small contingent there if that is our final judgment. I am asking the Secretary of War to so handle the situation that our forces will not be completely withdrawn until such a program is finally determined upon.
Very truly yours,