Date and number 1920 Dec. 7 (1393) Information that discreet, informal representations were made to Foreign Minister; latter's reply in justification of action. 338 Dec. 15 (2013) Dec. 17 Dec. 23 (1720) Dec. 28 Dec. 28 (1732) From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Boyden to Davis: Exposition of U. S. technical legal position regarding army costs as compared with position of Allies; recommendation that arrangements be made whereby U. S. interests may stand on same footing with those of Allies. From the French Ambassador Draft instructions to Commissioners (text printed) for proposed measures to be taken should provocative speeches be repeated by Germany Ministers. Request for U. S. cooperation. To the Ambassador in France (tel.) Information regarding strength of U. S. forces in occupied territory and proposed reductions, substance of which may be communicated to German authorities in accordance with request. To the French Ambassador Refusal to join in official representations to Germany re- 340 341 342 To the Ambassador in France (tel.) For Allen: Information regarding French request to join in official representations to Germany. Instructions for informal action should occasion arise. 343 1921 Jan. 11 (28) To the Ambassador in France (tel.) For Boyden: Argument to substantiate U. S. claim to collect costs of occupation in Germany pursuant to armistice agreement and irrespective of U. S. ratification of peace treaty. 343 Jan. 11 (32) From the Ambassador in France (tel.) From Allen: Refusal to join in signing representations to German Commissioner; acceptance of Allen's suggestion that only President of High Commission sign. 346 UNOFFICIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE REPARATION 1920 Jan. 11 (105) COMMISSION From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Rathbone to Davis also: Minutes of Organization Committee of Reparation Commission (excerpt printed) extending invitation to Rathbone, U. S. Treasury representative, to assist unofficially at meetings of Commission. 346 GERMANY UNOFFICIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE REPARATION COMMISSION-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1920 Jan. 24 (254) Mar. 20 (568) Apr. 1 (875) From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Rathbone to Davis also: Summary of inaugural sitting of To the Ambassador in France (tel.) Davis to Rathbone: Early departure of Boyden to relieve From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Rathbone to Treasury: Details regarding transfer to From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Boyden to Davis: Arrangements for quarters, salaries, expense accounts, etc., of U. S. unofficial representatives on Reparation Commission. To the Ambassador in France (tel.) 347 348 348 May 5 (1094) 349 May 29 (1044) 350 Davis to Boyden: Approval of scheme for meeting expenses of U. S. representation on Reparation Commission; instructions to report estimate of monthly expenses. July 1 351 From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Boyden to Davis: Details of financial arrangement with Commission for sharing expense allowances for unofficial representatives and for Americans working directly for Commission; estimate of monthly expenses. Davis to Boyden: Approval of plan for expense allowances and other financial arrangements. NEGOTIATIONS RELATING TO GERMAN REPARATIONS 353 PROBLEMS ARISING UNDER ARTICLES 235 AND 260 OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLESTHE QUESTION OF THE SALE TO THE NETHERLANDS OF SHIPS BUILT IN GERMANY RELATION OF THE REPARATION COMMISSION TO THE CONFERENCE OF AMBASSADORS DISCUSSIONS REGARDING DETERMINATION OF THE AMOUNT OF GERMANY'S LIABILITY-THE SPA CONFERENCE-ATTITUDE OF THE UNITED STATES TOWARD THE PERCENTAGE AGREEMENT AND THE COAL PROTOCOL EVALUATION OF GERMAN SHIPS ALLOCATED TO GREAT BRITAIN PROPOSED CONFERENCE AT GENEVA MEETING OF TECHNICAL EXPERTS AT BRUSSELS; DECISION OF THE UNITED STATES NOT TO BE REPRESENTED 1920 Jan. 23 The Unofficial Representative on the Reparation Commission to 353 Feb. 7 (404) Dissenting opinion of Bayne (text printed) concerning powers of Reparation Commission over neutral securities of German nationals. From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Rathbone to Davis also: Request for views regarding sale of ships building in Germany for the Netherlands, in preparation for consideration of matter by Reparation Commission. 360 GERMANY Date and number NEGOTIATIONS RELATING TO GERMAN REPARATIONS Continued Subject 1920 Feb. 14 (356) Page To the Ambassador in France (tel.) 361 Davis to Rathbone: Warning during Peace Conference that sale of ships to Dutch could not be recognized. Instructions not to object to demand on Germany for ships but to maintain U. S. view that war-time bona fide transfers of merchant ships are valid. 362 Feb. 17 (493) Feb. 23 (397) From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Rathbone to Davis: Reparation Commission's letter to German delegation (text printed) demanding explanation of delivery of ship to Netherlands and requiring assurances that other ships will not sail pending hearing of all parties concerned; Rathbone's efforts in preventing prejudgment of case. To the Ambassador in France (tel.) 364 Davis to Rathbone: Concurrence in views and action taken regarding ships built in Germany for sale to Dutch; instructions to acquiesce in demand for surrender of ships. 365 Mar. 2 (453) Mar. 2 (613) Mar. 15 (534) To the Ambassador in France (tel.) Davis to Rathbone: Approval of Bayne's dissenting opinion regarding art. 235 of treaty and further arguments in support of his brief. From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Rathbone to Davis: Proposed letter from Reparation Commission (text printed) requiring that German-owned securities in neutral countries be used for purchase of food and raw materials if Germany is to receive credit against 20 billion marks for additional funds spent for food and supplies. To the Ambassador in France (tel.) Department and Davis to Rathbone: Instructions to make strong protest against broad construction of art. 235 as unjust forcing of Germany to sell securities at a sacrifice and as undesirable precedent; willingness to inform powers of position by note if necessary. 366 368 Mar. 18 (552) To the Ambassador in France (tel.) 370 Davis to Rathbone: Instructions to present U. S. view that value of German deliveries of ships and resources must be credited on account of 20 milliard marks reparations. Arguments sustaining this viewpoint. 371 Mar. 18 (750) Mar. 20 (767) Mar. 20 (769) From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Rathbone to Treasury: Delivery to Germany of letter on use of neutral securities and German reply (text printed) explaining impracticability and unproductivity of such measure; reference of question to finance section; difficult position of U. S. representative. From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Rathbone to Davis: Argument that German payments for imports of food and supplies are not deductible from 20billion-mark obligation. From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Rathbone to Davis: Information that U. S. interpretation of art. 235 of treaty has been repeatedly set forth to Reparation Commission. 375 376 1920 Mar. 22 (779) Mar. 25 (815) Mar. 26 (617) Mar. 31 (652) From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Rathbone to Davis: Question whether Reparation Commission should report to Conference of Ambassadors as demanded in case of supplying list of violations of treaty. From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Rathbone to Davis: Proposed request that Germany submit in accordance with art. 260 list of interests in Russia, China, Turkey, Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria, and that Allied Powers indicate interests they wish to acquire; request for instructions. To the Ambassador in France (tel.) Department and Davis to Rathbone: Opinion that Conference of Ambassadors cannot properly demand report from Reparation Commission; instructions to submit information as matter of courtesy. To the Ambassador in France (tel.) Davis to Rathbone: Assent to proposed request for listing by Germany of interests and indication by Allied Powers of those desired; insistence that any property taken over be disposed of openly at highest price and that German property in China be not transferred. 376 377 379 380 Apr. 9 (951) From the Ambassador in France (tel.) 381 Boyden to Davis also: Discussion by Reparation Commission of U. S. views regarding procedure and manner of disposing of properties. Apr. 14 (760) To the Ambassador in France (tel.) 381 Davis to Boyden: Decision not to furnish list of interests desired. Recommendations regarding method of taking over and disposing of German interests. Apr. 14 (765) To the Ambassador in France (tel.) 382 Davis to Boyden: U. S. interpretation of terms of treaty as regards reparations and duties of Commission; preparation of note for Allies setting forth U. S. views. Apr. 16 (1005) From the Ambassador in France (tel.) 384 Boyden to Davis: Delivery of letter to Germany requesting Discussion of best Apr. 17 (799) To the Ambassador in France (tel.) 384 Apr. 21 (1034) Davis to Rathbone and Boyden: Delay in preparation of proposed note to Allied Governments; danger of creating precedent for governmental interference with decisions of Reparation Commission; indication of ignoring by Allies of U. S. unofficial views. Request for opinions. From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Boyden to Davis: Disapproval of sending U. S. note to Allies under present conditions; no tendency to ignore U. S. unofficial views; general improvement in situation. 385 Date and number GERMANY NEGOTIATIONS RELATING TO GERMAN REPARATIONS Continued Subject Page 1920 May 3 (876) To the Ambassador in France (tel.) 386 Davis to Boyden: Clarification of situation and postponement of suggested note of protest to Allies. May 12 (1138) 386 May 18 (1169) From the Ambassador in France (tel.) From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Boyden to Davis: Necessity for definiteness and reduction of reparations; French reluctance to adopt this policy; question of U. S. share of reparation payments and possibility of reducing army of occupation. Boyden to Davis: Commission's informal request of Governments interested for report on claims in order that regulations for their presentations may be formulated. 389 May 20 (1178) From the Ambassador in France (tel.) 389 Boyden to Davis: Recommendation that no formal reply be made at present to Commission's request for report on U. S. claims. Request for estimated value of property held by Alien Property Custodian. May 22 (986) To the Ambassador in France (tel.) Davis to Boyden: Opinion that German liability should be fixed at capacity to pay; discussion of possible U. S. claims against Germany and status of alien property fund in connection with payment thereof. To the Ambassador in France (tel.) 390 May 28 (1036) 392 For Boyden: Estimated value of property held by Alien Property Custodian; inability to estimate U. S. claims at present. June 3 (886) From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 393 Invitation to send U. S. representatives to approaching June 21 (661) To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 393 Inadvisability of accepting invitation to send representatives to Spa Conference. June 26 (56) To the Ambassador in Belgium (tel.) 394 Instructions to report all available information regarding results reached at Hythe and Boulogne conferences. June 30 (91) From the Ambassador in Belgium (tel.) 394 Report on discussion of disarmament and indemnity percentages at Hythe and Boulogne conferences. June 30 (693) To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 395 Instructions to repeat to Berlin Department's telegram no. 661; presence of Boyden at Spa in connection with Reparation Commission. From the Ambassador in France (tel.) Boyden to Davis: Inquiry regarding alleged report of subcommittee, largely American, containing estimated claims of Allied countries and percentages of indemnities. 395 |