Reparations

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

REPARATION COMMISSION. By the treaty of Versailles, signed June 28, 1919, Germany accepted for herself and her allies responsibility y for all the loss and damage inflicted by the World War on other nainflic tions, and it was agreed that she should make reparation for all damages done to civil populations and their property. The amount of such damage and the manner of payment were to be determined by an Inter-Allied Reparation Commission composed of representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France, and Italy, with other nations represented on occasion. Roland W. Boyden was appointed United States representative, but was later withdrawn by President Wilson following the failure of the Senate to ratify the Versailles Treaty. On May 6, 1921, President Harding reappointed Mr. Boyden to sit on the Commission as unofficial observer. Many of reparation have been proposed, plans , adopted, rejected, and superseded. On Deposed Jan. 28, 1921, the sum to be paid by Germany was fixed at 226,000,000,000 gold marks, but this sum was rejected by Germany as impossible. Counter proposals were made by Germany, which were in turn rejected by the Allies, who proceeded to occupy new German territories. Germany appealed to the United States, but Secretary Hughes replied to the that the United States Government stood with the Allies in holding Germany responsible for the war and bound to make all reparation possible. A new proposal made to President Harding to approach the Allies in the interest of peace with an offer from Germany of fifty billion marks was deemed unsatisfactory and the President took no action. The Allies sent an ultimatum to Germany threatening to occupy the whole Ruhr coal district and on May 11, 1921, Germany agreed to a total payment of 132,000,000,000 gold marks, equal to about $33,000,000,000. An agreement with France made on Aug. 27, 1921, provides for the payment of part of the debt in materials to rebuild France's devastated areas, an arrangement highly advantageous to both parties, so that Germany has requested (January, 1922) that she be permitted to pay more în kind. She has also announced that taxes to be laid in 1922 will leave 16,000,000,000 marks available for reparations. Claims of United States citizens against Germany, as reported by Secretary Hughes March, 1921, an.ounted to $221,- 231,465, this sum not including Shipping Board claims, costs of the army of occupation, or other strictly Government claims. RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS. (See MILITARY ORGANIZATION, Vol. VI.)