Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-28

Washington, Aug. 21.-presldent Wilson
has not the power 70 declare peace by
proclamation, nor could he consent in any
circumstances 10 take such a course prior
to the ratification of a formal treaty of
peace by the Senate The President so
wrote senator Fan to-day In answer to
one of the 20 written questions the soma
tor presented at the White House con-
ference Tuesday.
Replying to another question. the Presi-
dent said the provision of the treaty
that it should come into force after
ratification by Germany and three of the
principal associated powers operated
merely to establish peace between those
ratifying powers and that it was "ques-
tionablc whether it can be said that the
League of Nations is IN any true sense
created by the association q: only three
Of the allied and associated governments "
AS to the question of when normal condi-
, lions might be restored, the President
said he could only express the confident
opinion that immediate ratification Of
the treaty and acceptance of the
I covenant OF the league as written would
certainly within the near future reduce
the cost of living" both in this country
and abroad, through the restoration of
production and commerce to normal
/ To Senator Falls questions relating 10
disposition of Gcrmanys possessions the
| President said the ARA ngement in the
treaty conveyed no title to the allied or
associated powers. but merely "ntrusts
disposition of the territory in question to
their decision.
"Germany's remuneration in favor oi
| the principal allied and associated
+ powers the President continued "of her
rights and titles to her overseas posses
aions is meant similarly to operate as
vesting in those powers a trustee ship with
respect of their final disposition and
government"
! TEXT OF TIE LETTER
| The Presidents letter follows:
MY dear Senator Fall:
You left yesterday in my hands GER
tain written questions which promised
you | would answer. | am Fastening to
fulfill the promise
81 feel constrained to say in reply TO
your first question not only that in my
Judgment have not the power by procla
nation to declare that peace exists. but
| that I could in no circumstances consent
to take such a course prior to the ratif-
cation of a formal treaty of peace I
feel it due to perfect frankness to say
that it would in my opinion nut a stain
upon our national honor which we never
could efface, if after sending our men
to the battlefield to fight for the common
cause we should abandon our associate les
| in the war in the settlement of the terms
| of peace and dissociate 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-
question by saying that the provisions
] of the treaty II which you refer operate
| merely 10 establish peace between pow
ers ratfying. and that it is questionable
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 governments
WOULD REDUCE COST
| I'm reply to your sixth question.
| can only express the confident opinion
that the immediate adoption of the trea-
ty, along with the articles of the cove.
nant Of the league as written would
certainly within the near future reduc,
the cost of living in this country as else.
where by restoring production and com
merce to their normal strength ant
| freedom
| For your convenience | will number
the remaining paragraphs of this letter
as the questions to which they are in
tended TO reply are numbered
"Seven--I have had no official informa