The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-08-29
ONLY SENATE GAN
END WAR--W|LSON
President Has No Power to An
null Act of Congress.
FALLS QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Upper Chambers Failure to Act Is
the Only Bar to Ending Present
State - German Colonies
Taken in Trust.

Wilson has not the power TO declare
peace by proclamation, nor could he
consent In any circumstances to take
such a course prior to the ratification
Of a formal treaty of peace by the sem
ate. The president so wrote Senator
Fall In answer to one Of the 20 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 ratification by Germany and
three of the principal associated pow
ers operated merely to establish peace
between those ratifying powers, and
that it was questionable whether it
can be said that the League Of Nations
Is in any true sense created by the as
ISOLATION Of only three Of the allied
and associated governments"
Peace Would Cut n. G. l..
AS to the question of when normal
conditions might be restored, the pres
ident said he could only express the
confident opinion that immediate rati-
fcation of the treaty and acceptance
Of the covenant Of the league, as writ
ten, would certainly within the near
future reduce the cost of living" both
in this country and abroad, through
the restoration Of production and com
merce to normal.
To Senator Falls questions relating
to the disposition Of Germany's pos
sessions, the president said the ar
rangement in the treaty conveyed no
title to the allied or associated powers,
but merely 'intrusts disposition Of the
territory in question to their decision"
"Germany's remuneration in favor Of
the principal allied and associated
powers" the president continued, "of
her rights and titles to her overseas
possessions is meant similarly to ope-
rate as vesting in those powers a trus-
teeship with respect to their final dis
position and government"
Question of Procedure.
Unless Mr.. Wilson absolutely re-
verses himself, the struggle between
him and the senate must center for
the next week or month entirely on a
simple question of procedure. The
president holds most Of the cards
the Constitution gives him a big adj
vantage in being able to negotiate and
sign peace treaties. 1t isn't like q do
nestle law that car be passed over his
veto by twO-thirds vote. No such con-
fict between the executive and legis-
lative branches of the government in
volving so many sig%natorieS to a treaty
has occurred before, and the legal con-
sequences are enough to make many
international lawyers rich in fees for
years to come. Commercial as we'll as
financial relations will be subject to
varied interpretations.
Here Are the Twenty Queries.
The 20 questions answered by Pres
ident Wilson, which were submitted
to him by Senator Fall at the confer
ence held at the White House Tues
day, are In brief as follows:
Questions / to IVACould not the
president, with the assent Of congress,
proclaim a status Of peace with Ger
many and permit the resumption OF
trade?
Question V asks the president to
define the establishment Of the League
Of Nations and state show many ma
lions will have to ratify the peace
treaty before such establishment win
be perfected"
Question VI-Will the League of
Nations reduce the high cost OF living
in the United States?
Asks About Neutrals.
Question VII-What do Norway,
Sweden. Denmark, Holland and Swift
erland think of the League of Ma
lions? Will they join, and when?
Questions VIII and TX deal with
resumption Of with Ger
many.
Question Y asks If certain COM
mittees as stipulated in the league
have been appointed aAd inquiries to
whom they make report.
Questions XI and XH-To whom
does Germany certain terri
torial rights which it Is required to
under the treaty?
Question XIII inquiries as to the dis
position Of overseas possessions by
the United States.
Question XIv--What disposition Is
made of Germany's foreign posses
sions?
Questions XIV, XVI and XVII ask
for interpretations of certain phases
OF the league and the reason for the
appointment of certain commissions.
Questions XVIII. XIX and Xxx
Why was the United States made a
party in the appointment and fulfill
/ ment Of certain missions in the set.
Element of foreign plebiscite ques.
lions?
The Presidents Reply.
President Wilson's letter to Senator
Fall, replying to the senator's &c
questions on the treaty and the League
of Nations. Is as follows:
my Dear Senator Fall:
"You left yesterday In my hands
certain written questions which
promised you I would answer. am