The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-08-21
GERMAN POSSESSIONS
ARE NOT ALLOTTED
Replying Further to Sen.
Fall, the President De-
clared That Ratification
By Germany and Three
Allied Powers Would Not
Create the League of Ma
tions in Any True Sense

Washington, ID. e., Aug. 2l--Presldent
Wilson has not the power to declare
peace by proclamation, nor could he con
sent in any circumstances to take such
a course prior to the ratification of
formal treaty of peace by the Senate.
The president so wrote Senator Fall to-
day in answer to one of the twenty
written questions the senator presented
at the White House conference Tuesday.
Replying to another question, the
president said the provision of the treaty
that it should come into force after rati-
fication by Germany and three of the
principal associated powers operated
merely to establish peaee between those
ratifying powers and that it was "ques-
tionable whether it can be said that the
league of nations is in any true sense
created by the association of only three
of the allied and associated govern
ments."
As to the question of when normal
conditions might be restored, the presi-
dent said he could only express the
confident opinion that immediate rati-
fcation of the treaty and acceptance of
tHt ltdgut DIS aeWlilttu
within the near future reduce the cost
of living" both in this country and
abroad through the restoration of pro
duction and commerce to normal.
To Senator Falls questions relating
to the disposition of Germanys posses
sions, the president said the arrange
ment in the treaty conveyed no title
to the allied or associated powers, but
merely "intrusts disposition OF the ter
ritory in question to their direction"
"Germany's renunciation in favor of
the principal allied and associated pow
ers", the president continued, "of her
rights and titles to her overseas posses
sions is meant similarly to operate as
vesting in these powers a trusteeship
with respect of their final disposition
and government"
The presidents letter follows:
'My Dear Senator Fall:
''You left yesterday in my mind GER
cain written questions which / promised
you would answer l am fastening to
fulfill that promise.
Il feel constrained to say in reply to
your first question not only that in my
Judgment have not the power by proc
lamation to declare that peace exists,
but that / could in no circumstances
consent to- take such course prior to
the ratification of a formal treaty of
peace. feel it due to perfect frankness
to say that it would in my opinion put
a stain upon our national honor, which
we never could efface, if after sending
our men to the battlefield to fight the
the common cause, we should abandon
our associates in the war in the settle
ment of the terms of peace and dissoci-
ate ourselves from all responsibility with
regard to those terms.
Il respectfully suggest that, having
said this, have in effect answered also
your second, third and fourth questions,
SO far as | myself am concerned.
Permit me to answer your fifth ques-
zion by saying that the provisions of
the treaty to which you refer operate
merely to establish peace between the
powers ratifying, and that it is question
able whether it can be said that the
league of nations is in any true sense
created by the association of only three
of. the allied and associated govern
ments.
In reply to your sixth question, can
only express the confident opinion that
the immediate adoption of the treaty
along with the articles of the covenant
of the league as written would certain
ly within the near future reduce the cost
of living in this country as elsewhere by
restoring production and commerce to
their normal strength and freedom
For your convenience, | will number
the remaining paragraphs of this letter
as the question to which they are intend
ed to reply are numbered.
"SevenI have had no official infor-
nation as to whether Norway, Sweden,
Denmark, Holland or Switzerland will
join the league
Eight answered your eighth ques.
tion in replying to question asked me
at our conference the other day. THE
question referred to licensing of exports
TO Germany.
'Nine-ln February, 1917, Spain was
requested to take charge of American
interests u Germany through her diplo.
matte and consular representatives and
no other arrangement has since been
made
"Ten-The committee to prepare plans
for the organization of thel eague, for the
establishment of the seat of the league,
and for the proceedings of the first meet
ing of the assembly, has been appointed
but has not reported
"Eleven-Article lis of the peace