The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-12-08
Pres. Wilson Says 1t Might
Lead to Grave Confu-
sion" in Foreign Affairs
WOULD DISLIKE RES
OLUTION TO PASS
Presidents Letter on Mex.
leo Affair Was Sent to
Senator To-day

1 Washington, D. c., Dee. s.--President
Wilson would be "grayely concerned TO
see any such resolution pass the Con-
gress," he wrote Senator Fall to-day, in
referring to the Fall resolution request
ing the president to sever diplomatic
relations with the Carranza govern
ment.
"It would constitute a reversal of
our constitutional practice which might
lead to very grave confusion in regard
to the guidance of our foreign affairs, F"
he wrote
The president expressed confidence
that he had the support of every com
petent constitutional authority in the
statement that the direction of the gov
ernment's foreign affairs was assigned
by the constitution to the chief execu-
tive and to him alone.
When the presidents letter was re.
ceived, Senator Lodge, chairman of the
| foreign relations committee, called Sen
ator Fall and Senator Brandegee, Re-
publican Connecticut, OF the committee
into conference and in few minutes
announced that no further action on
the Mexico situation would be taken by
| the committee.
"We wanted to help" Senator Lodge
said, but now the entire Mexican sit
uation goes TO the president. The re-
sponsibility is upon his shoulders Let
it rest there
1t was expected Senator Fall would
make public during the day the evil
denee upon which he based his resoIu-
i-tion requesting the severance Of diPlo.
matte relations.
The Presidents Letter.
The presidents letter to Senator Fall
| follows:
"Thank you very much for your kind
| promptness in complying with my re.
\ quest that you send me a copy Of the
memorandum report of the sub-com
mittee on Mexican affairs OF the com
mittee on foreign affairs. ! shall ex-
anime it with the greatest interest and
care. What you told me Of the inves-
tigation, on Friday last, prepares me to
| find in IL matter Of the greatest impor.
! tance
'Nou ask an indication of my desire
with regard to the pending resolution
to which you and Senator Hitchcock
/ co He'd my attention on Friday, and
am glad to reply with the utmost
/ frankness that should be grayely con
ccrncd to see any such resolution pass
4 the Congress. 1t would constitute a
reversal Of our constitutional practice
which might lead to very grave confu-
sion in regard to the guidance Of our
! foreign affairs | am cnotident that
am supported by every competent con-
stitutional authority in the statement
that the initiative in directing the rela-
tions Of our government with foreign
governments is assigned by the consti-
1 tuition to the executive and TO the eN-
eeutivc only. Only one of the two
| houses of Congress is associated with
! the president by the constitution in an
advisory capacity and the advice Of the
| Senate is provided for only when sought
| by the executive in regard to explicit
agreements with foreign governments
and the appointment of the diplomatic
representatives who are to speak for
this government at foreign capitals
The only safe course, am confident
is to adhere to the prescribed method Of
the constitution. We might 90 very
far afield if we departed from it.
II am very much obliged to YOU for
having given me the opportunity to ex,
press this opinion.
Very truly yours,
(Sigued Woodrow Wilson
"Hon. Albert NJ Fall, u. S. Senate"