462.00R296/2910: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Armour)
171. Reparation No. 77. Your No. 233, May 23, 5 p.m., Reparation No. 252.
Department’s telegrams No. 165, May 19, 8 p.m., and 167, May 21, 6 p.m., were sent to you as result of meeting held by President with several responsible leaders of House and Senate. After a long discussion they agreed personally to support new schedule which will be presented to Congress by the Executive with earnest request for approval. Many members of Congress undoubtedly will oppose even this arrangement on ground that this Government is not collecting reparations as such but merely Army costs, which, under existing arrangement, are prior obligation of Germany and are due solely for reason that both Germany and the Allies urged us to keep our Army on the Rhine for the general good; and similarly with regard to the mixed claims, which are result of judicial settlement. It would not be possible now to call another meeting asking for sacrifices even greater.
The figures presented at the White House meeting were drawn up very carefully by the Treasury, and proposals it contained relative to our share of the annuities seemed generous to us. For that reason we feel that it is not possible to take any further steps until experts’ [Page 1082] final report is sent to the Governments, and it should be borne in mind that any further diminution in the annuities to be paid to the United States might add seriously to opposition in Congress to the acceptance of the new schedule.
It does not seem to be necessary for you to communicate again formally with the Committee of Experts.