ioS THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE PEACE ch.

In addition to the above there is a further itemof more doubtful character, namely—

(g) The expenses of the Relief Commission in pro-viding necessary food and clothing to maintain thecivilian French population in the enemy-occupieddistricts.

The Belgian claim would include similar items. 1 Ifit were argued that in the case of Belgium some-thing more nearly resembling an indemnity forgeneral war costs can be justified, this could onlybe on the ground of the breach of International Law involved in the invasion of Belgium, whereas, as wehave seen, the Fourteen Points include no specialdemands on this ground. 2 As the cost of BelgianRelief under (gr), as well as her general war costs,has been met already by advances from the British,French, and United States Governments, Belgium would presumably employ any repayment of them byGermany in part discharge of her debt to theseGovernments, so that any such demands are, in effect,an addition to the claims of the three lendingGovernments.

The claims of the other Allies would be compiledon similar lines. But in their case the question arises

1 Mark-paper or mark-credits owned in ex-occupied territory by Alliednationals should be included, if at all, in the settlement of enemy debts,along with other sums owed to Allied nationals, and not in connectionwith reparation.

2 A special claim on behalf of Belgium was actually included in thePeace Treaty , and was accepted by the German representatives withoutdemur.