462.00 R 294/174: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State

[Extract]

185. W–25.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bemelmans asks that the basis of division be changed largely I judge because of home politics. He presents new clause as follows:

“However if in the course one of the first four years it should grove necessary to utilize all or part of the cash payments made by Germany to cover the costs of the European allied armies of occupation in the course of that year the American priority of 25 percent shall be calculated on the total of the cash payments made by Germany in the course of that year and not merely on the total remaining after the costs of the European allied armies of occupation shall have been covered. The amount to be paid to the American Government in the course of one of the first four years may not however exceed 50 percent of the total remaining from the cash payments made by Germany in the course of the said year after the costs of the European allied armies of occupation shall have been covered. If the American priority calculated in the aforesaid manner for a determined year could not be covered by the 50 percent of the remainder the balance of this priority will be chargeable to the cash payments made by Germany in the course of the following years until and including 1926 instead of being divided among the payments of the last 8 years. At the beginning of 1927 the total [Page 159] deficit which might be recorded will be divided among the payments of the last 8 years”.

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  • [Wadsworth]
  • Herrick
  1. Telegram in four sections; this extract is the third section.