Evening star., 1919-12-08
PRESIDENT AGAINST
DIPLOMATIC SPLIT
WITH MEXICO NOW
Would Constitute Reversal
of Constitutional Practice,
He Tells Senator Fall.
RESOLUTION "GRAVELY
CONCERNS" EXECUTIVE
White House Confident It Has Sole
Authority to Direct Governments
Foreign Affairs.

President Wilson would be 'gravely
concerned to see any such resolution
pass the Congress he wrote Senator
Fall today in referring to the Fall
resolution requesting the President to
sever diplomatic relations with the
CarranZa government.
1T would constitute reversal of
our constitutional practice which
might lead to very grave confusion in
regard to the guidance of our foreign
affairs" 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
governments foreign affairs was as
signed by the Constitution to the chief
executive and to him alone.
The President's Letter.
The 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
memorial report of the subcommittee
/ on Mexican affairs of the committee on
! foreign affairs. 1 shall examine it with
: the greatest interest and care. What
YOU told me of the investigation on Fri
day last prepares me to find in it mat
ter of greatest Importance.
You ask an indication of c,y de-
sire with regard to tc)nding
resolution to which You a. enator
Hitchcock called my attention on
the utmost frankness that 1 should
be gravely concerned to see any such
resolution pass the Congress. 1t
would constitute a reversal of our
lead to very grave confusion in re-
gard to the guidance of our foreign
affairs. l am convinced that I am
supported by every competent Con-
stitutional authority in the statement
that the initiative in directing the
foreign governments is assigned by
the Constitution to the Executive
and to the Executive only.
Only one of the Houses of Con-
gress is associated with the President
by the Constitution in an advisory ca
pacity. and the advice of the Senate is
provided for only when sought by the
Executive in regard to explicit agree
ments with foreign governments and
the appointment of the diplomatic
representatives who are to speak for
this government at foreign capitals.
The only safe course.zI ann confident
is to adhere to the prescribed method
of the Constitution. We might 60
very far afield if we departed from It,
Il am very much obliged to you for
having given me the opportunity, to
express this opinion.
Very truly yours.
WOODROW WILSON"
Committee Action Ii Ended.
When the Presidents letter was re-
ceived. Senator Lodge, chairman of
the foreign relations committee. called
Senator Fall and Senator Brandegee,
republican. Connecticut, of the COM
mlttee into conference and in a few
minutes announced that no further
sction on the Mexican situation would
BE taken by the committee.
We wanted to help - Senator Lodge
said, but not with the entire Mexican
situation goes to the President. The
responsibility is upon his shoulders
Let it rest there"
IL was expected Senator Fall would
make public during the day the evil
dence upon which he based his reso-
luton requesting the severance of
diplomatic relations
MIR. Fall Calls Conference.
Upon receipt of the Presidents let :
ter Senator Fall called Senator Lodge
and Senator Brandegee, republican.
Connecticut. another member of the
Mexican investigating subcommittee
into conference in the foreign rela
tions committee room
1T was what / expected" was Sem
ator Hitchcocks comment after the
conference. He added he would have
been surprised by any other reply by
The President.
Senator Lodge added that the COM
mIttee had wished to assure the Presi
dent of its support, but that even that
appeareo undesirable Very well.'
he said. he may deal with it"