Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-08-21

LETTER IS MADE PUBLIC
Twenty Points Put Up to Will
son Are Thoroughly Covered
BY Reply
By The Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21---Presi-
dent Wilson has not the power to de-
clare peace by proclamation. nor
could he consent in any circumstan-
ces to take such a course prior to- the
peace by the senate. The Presi-
dent so wrote Senator Falls today, 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 provisions of the
treaty should come into force after
ratification by Germany and three
of the principal associated powers
operated merely to establish peace
between those ratffying powers and
that it was Questionable whether the
League of Nations is in any true sense
created by the association"
AS to the question of when normal
conditions might be restored the
President said he could only express
the confident opinion that immediate
ratification of the treaty ana accept
ance of the 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 Senators Falls question relating
to the disposition of Germany's pos
sessions, the President said arrange
ment of the treaty conveyed no title
in the allied or associated powers, but
merely "intrusts disposition of the
territory in question to their deci-
'sion."
"Germany's renunciation in favor
of the principal allie dand associated
powers" the President continued, "of
her rights and titles to her overseas
possessions in meant similarly to oper
ate a vesting in those powers trust
teeship with respect of their final dis
position and government
The Presidents letter is as follows:
"My dear Senator Falls:
You left yesterday in my hands
certain written questions which
promised you 1 would answer. am
Fastening to fulfill that promise.
II feel constrained to say in reply
to your first question not only that in
my Judgment I have not the power
by proclamation to declare that peace
exists, but that could in no circum-
stances consent to take such a course
prior to ratification Of a formal treaty
of peace.
II feel it due to perfect frank
ness to say that this would. in
my opinion, put stain upon our ma
tional honor which we never could
efface if, after sending our men to
the battlefield to fight the common
cause, we should abandon our asso-
ciates after the war and disassociate
ourselves from all responsibility with
regard to those terms.
II respectfully suggest that having
said this, have in effect anSw cred
also your second, third and fourth
questions, so far as I, myself, is con-
cerned.
Permit me to answer your fifth
question by saying that the provisions
of the treaty to which you refer op-
crate merely to establish peace be-
tween the powers ratifying it, and
that it is questionable whether it can
be said that the League of Nations is
in any true sense created by associa-
tions of only three of the allied and
associated governments
I'm reply to your 9Th question
can only express the confidence thai
the immediate adoption of the treaty
along with the articles of the cove
nant of the league, as written, would
certainly within the near future, re-
duce the cost of living in this coun-
try as elsewhere, by restoring pro-
duction and commerce to their nor
NAL trend and freedom.
For your convenience, will num-
ber the remaining paragraphs of this
letter as the questions to which they
are intended to reply, are number
ed.
az. I have had no official informa-
ton as to whether Norway, Sweden
Denmark, Holland or Switzerland will
join the league.
"S. 1 answered your eighth ques-
ton in reply to a question asked me
at our conference the other day. (This
question referred to licensing of ex-
ports to Germany.
''9. In February, 1917, Spain was
requested to take charge of Ameri-
can interests in Germany through her
tives and no other arrangements
have since been made.
40. The committee prepared plans
for the organization of the league for
the establishment of the seat of the
league and for the proceeding Of the
first meeting of the assembly. has been
appointed, but has not reported.
al. Article 118 of the peace treaty.
part A, under which Germany re-
nounces all her rights to territory for
merly belonging to herself or her al
lies, was understood, so far as special
provisions was not made in the treaty
itself for it's disposition, as constitut-
ing the principal allied and associated
powers the authority by which self
disposition should ultimately be de-
termined. 1t conveyed no title to
those powers. but merely intrusts the
disposition of the territory in ques-
ton to their decision.
.'12. Germany's Pronunciation in
favor of the principal allied and as
sociated powers of rights and titles to
overseas possessions. is meant similar
ly to operate as vesting in those pow
ers trusteeship with respect of their
final disposition and government.