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53. THE INTERVENTION OF 1906.-The intervention of 1906 was not a part of General Wood's regime, but is inserted here as a matter of interest because it was made pursuant to the terms of the treaty which grew out of the circumstances just above mentioned. Not being established under or by virtue of the rules of war, but by virtue of a treaty, it was not a military government at all. Only a few Army officers were employed, and these did not derive their power from or through the military commander. The army of something like 10,000 men that went to Cuba remained passive so far as the exercise of government was concerned, but stood ready to prevent any uprising or insurrection if necessary. (See Sec. I, par. 10 b of this chapter.)

54. TAXES ON INCOMES.-On January 22, 1900, General Wood appointed a commission to consider the subject of taxation in all its aspects, and in some quarters it was hoped that the commission would recommend the abandonment of the existing tax on incomes. This they failed to do. The decision probably was a wise one, even if for no other reason than that there had already been many radical changes in the methods of administration, and so many of the new officials were without experience that each change meant confusion and delay in the conduct of public busiThe United States government subsequently enacted its own income tax law.

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Policy of American military authorities in economic matters
Suppression of labor difficulties

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Liquor traffic

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Punishments and restrictions prescribed by Marshal Foch
Public utilities

Complications during second period

55. THE ALLIED SITUATION.-a. The exercise of military government now to be considered began when the Allies moved into Germany on the morning of December 1, 1918, pursuant to the provisions of Articles II and V of the Armistice Agreement. The occupation of the territory on the left bank of the Rhine was by garrisons holding the principal crossings of that river (at Mayence, Coblence, and Cologne), together with bridgeheads at those points of a thirty kilometer radius on the right bank, and by garrisons holding the other strategic points of the area. On the right bank there was also reserved a neutral zone between the river and a line drawn parallel to it, ten kilometers from the bridgeheads, extending from the Dutch to the Swiss frontier.

b. For convenience of administration, the occupied territory was divided into four zones-American, British,

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French, and Belgian, with headquarters at Treves, Cologne, Mayence, and Aix-la-Chapelle, respectively. The commanding general of each zone was the sole authority therein, except that all the zones collectively were under the commanderin-chief of the Allied armies of occupation.

c. When the Treaty of Versailles entered into effect on January 10, 1920, one of its conventions, commonly referred to as the "Rhineland Agreement," purported to vest the governing control of the occupied territory in a civilian body known as the Interallied Rhineland High Commission. (But see next paragraph.)

56. DIVISION INTO PERIODS.-For the purpose of convenience, therefore, our own exercise of military government in occupied Germany may be regarded as divided into periods as follows:

First: From December 1, 1918, when the Allies moved into Germany, up until January 10, 1920, when the treaty of Versailles entered into effect.

Second: That period subsequent to January 10, 1920, during which, due to the fact that the United States did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles, the military government in the American zone was exercised concurrently and in cooperation with that exercised in the other zones by the Interallied Rhineland High Commission. (See paragraph 80, infra.)

57. ATTITUDE OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE.-The friendly manner in which the Allied troops who effected the occupation of German territory were received by the inhabitants seemed at the time as if it might be an insidious form of propaganda. The professions of democracy heard on every side in those early days sounded blatant and insincere, yet it is quite probable that there had actually been a change in the psychology of the people. Hunger, disappointment, the collapse of political and military idols, and the strain of four years of war had done their work. There seems to be no doubt but that the peasants, and at least the workers amongst the other elements of the population, were really desirous of returning to the peace and quiet employment they had known in pre-war days. German officials, with few exceptions, co-operated to the full extent of their authority in making the occupation bear as lightly upon the civil population as the exigencies of the time would permit.

MILITARY GOVERNMENT

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58. ADAPTABILITY OF THE GERMAN SYSTEM TO MILITARY GOVERNMENT.-a. The German civil administration which preceded the military occupation has been described as an army in civilian clothes. The Government had been built upon military principles. Orders issued by the cabinet of the central government were passed down from level to level until eventually they reached the people in the form of regulations for their guidance. The chief officials of cities and towns were either appointed by higher authority or had to be approved by higher authority. Such a system is foreign to the spirit of American political life; but, regardless of the reasons that may be marshaled for or against such a form of government, it is evident that it was peculiarly adaptable to the wishes of the occupying military forces. The people were intelligent, were accustomed to obeying authority, and knew what it meant to be rigidly governed. In these respects our military government in occupied Germany differed essentially from all others we had theretofore exercised. It also differed from those heretofore considered, in that the occupation did not take place until after active hostilities had ceased. A further important difference, of course, was that in this case our intention was not to annex the occupied territory or free it from the mother country, but to turn it back to its former possessor as soon as the object which brought about the occupation had been accomplished. In other words, this military government experience is an example of the third type or situation mentioned in paragraph 11 c, Section I, of this chapter.

b. Under the armistice agreement, the local officers were to remain in the exercise of their duties, the result being that a minimum of work, comparatively speaking, was imposed upon our occupying forces.

59. MARSHAL FOCH'S PROCLAMATION.-The following proclamation of Marshal Foch to the people of occupied Germany was received by our Third Army during its advance to the Rhine:

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"PROCLAMATION OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ALLIED ARMIES, TO THE INHABITANTS OF OCCUPIED TEERRITORY.

"The Allied military authority herewith assumes command of the country.

"It demands strictest obedience from all.

"The laws and regulations in force at the moment of occupation will be continued insofar as they do not affect our rights or our safety.

"Public services will continue to operate under the direction and control of the military authorities.

"Public officials will be held responsible for the conscientious and honest discharge of the duties with which they are entrusted. The courts will continue to dispense justice.

"The inhabitants must abstain in word and deed from any act of hostility, direct or indirect, toward the Allied authorities. They must obey the requisitions which may be made of them in conformity with the law.

"Every person guilty of a crime or a misdemeanor, whether as a principal or as an accomplice, will be immediately arrested and brought before a court-martial.

"Every infraction of the regulations issued, as well as every refusal of obedience to orders, will be severely punished.

"The present proclamation declares the occupation of the country by the Allied armies. It points out to each one his duty which is to aid in the reestablishment of civil life by work, calm, and discipline. Let all persons diligently discharge such duties.”

This document was essentially a formal one, the phrases of which permitted wide interpretation by each of the several allied commanders. It brought home to the civil population the essential truth that the Allies were a unit in occupation as well as in active hostilities, yet it wisely permitted each nation to treat the defeated enemy in accordance with its own national policy and characteristics.

60. HIGH COMMAND ORGANIZATION.-Many commissions and sub-commissions were organized by Marshal Foch for the performance of duties falling to the High Command. The principal commissions were as follows:

a. The Permanent Inter-Allied Armistice Commission, appointed under paragraph XXXIV of the armistice provisions which states that

"to assure the best execution of the present agreement, the principle of a Permanent International Armistice Commission is admitted. This Commission will perform its duties under the high authority of the military and naval commander in chief of the Allied armies."

This commission was charged with the general supervision of the armistice conditions and with formal communi

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