Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1919-12-12

help from the United states senate in
the matter Of Mexican policy, Presi-
dent Wilson states clearly and fOrcibly
his own understanding Of the Execu-
tive function with regard 10 foreign
affairs. He is speaking Of the resolu-
ton introduced by Senator Fall, Of New
Mexico:
Il am glad 20 reply with the ~
most frankness that l should be
gravely concerned to see any such
resolution pass the Congress. l.
would constitute a reversal OF our
constitutional practice, which might
lead to a very grave confusion in
regard TO the guidance Of our for
eign affairs | am confident that
am supported by every competent
constitutional authority in the
statement that the initiative in d.
recting the relations OF our Gov
eminent with foreign Governments
is assigned by the Constitution to
the Executive and TO he Executive
only. Only one Of the two houses
Of Congress Is associoted with the
President by the Constitution in an
advisory capacity. and the advice OF
TIE DtHdAt - IibNlA'A A't 'A+As
when sought by the Executive In
regard to explicit agreements with
foreign Governments and the APP
pointment Of the diplomatic rep
resentatives who are TO speak for
the Government at foreign capitals.
The only safe course, ! am contl-
dent, Is to adhere TO the prescribed
method Of the Constitution. We
might go very far a1eld If we de-
parted from IT,"
This direct and clearly expressed
statement Of his own Interpretation OF
the Constitution affords additional evil
dence Of President Wilson's unimpair-
ed ability, whatever his general phys
ical condition may be, 90 do straight
thinking from his own point Of view.
Nothing that he has ever written on
the subject Of exclusive Executive
power is more autocratic in tone, more
de1antly characteristic Of his consist
ent attitude toward the coordinate
departments Of the Federal Government,
more utterly mistaken in its assump-
tlons. Yet, as was said by the SEN
ators who visited the White House last
week. there can be no doubt that Mr..
Wilson's mind is working as usual.
We return for a moment 10 the con-
siderati0n of the motives and results
Of that mission from the Senate Com
mittee on Foreign Relations to the
sick room Of the Pres dent. It is now
apparent that far from being an intru-
sion. the visit was welcomed by the
President. Far from being a spying
expedition. undertaken for purposes Of
sly politics. 10 was the natural pro-
ceeding on the part Of a Senate COM
mittee charged with the business of
foreign rel9tions; a committee which,
only a few hours previously, had been
told by the Secretary Of state that he
had had no communication whatever
with the President regarding the crit
ical state Of affairs as to Mexico. and
that no information about the MeXi-
can crisis had gone from the State De-
partment TO the White House. Such
was the situation when Senator Fall,
accompanied by SenatOr Hitchcock,
went from the Capitol, with the ap-
proyal Of the medical authorities, to
talk Of Mexico with the Chief Magis-
trate.
In two important respects the inter
view in question has led to results
that cannot fail to be gratifying in the
extreme to every loyal American:
II has quieted altogether the very
general apprehension. due largely to an
unfortunate policy Of reticence on the
part Of the guardians Of the Presidents
health, that there might be something
In Mr.. Wilson's illness incapacitating
him for the close thought on the ma
TONS business which his official re-
lation TO the Government requires
This fear has been removed. not only
by the observations and report of the
Senatorial visitors, but also. and in
even greater degree. by the vigorous
tone OF the letter to Senator FALL which
is one Of the by-products OF last weeks
conference. Who can doubt after read
ing this letter, that mentally, at least,
President Wilson is quite himself?
The second encouraging feature OF
the incident is the discovery that