The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-12-19
WILSON HANDLES
MEXICAN DISPUTE
Move to Break Diplomatic Rela-
tons With Carranza Comes
to Abrupt Halt.
RESOLUTION IS DROPPED.
Declares Congress Interference "Would
Constitute Reversal of Our Con-
stitutionaI Practice"-Fali Mem
orandum Involves Carranza.

Washington.-The projected action
by Congress looking toward sever
ance of relations with the Carranza
government was brought to an abrupt
standstill by President Wilson.
The President notified the senate, In
effect, that he purposed to deal with
the Mexican situation without any as
sistance or advice from either branch
Of Congress.
Accepting this view of the case, the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
decided to postpone action on the Fall
resolution directing the President to
break relations with Carranza, and to
take no further action at this time
toward bringing about settlement for
the indignities which Americans have
suffered at the hands Of Carranza's
agents
The Presidents objections to action
by Congress were stated in a letter to
Senator Fall, of New Mexico, author
of the resolution. Although politely
phrased, the letter left no doubt in the
minds Of the committee that the Presi-
dent resented the offer of assistance
which was embodied in the resolu-
ton and preferred to handle the stu
alton alone.
1t is unlikely now that any further
action will be taken by either the SEN
ate or house unless the President him.
self should make a requset for legisla-
ton to aid him in disposing of the mat
ter. In other words, since the Presi-
dent has made the request that Con-
gress should keep "hands Off" the
leaders in both ouses are disposed to
permit him to shoulder all the respon-
sibility in compliance With that re-
quest.
The Presidents letter to Senator
Fall on the Mexican situation follows:
THANK you very much for your
kind promptness in complying with my
request that you send me copy of
the memorandum report of the Sub
Committee on Mexican Affairs of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs. l shall
examine 1t with the greatest interest
and care. What you told me of the in
vestigation, on Friday last, prepares
me to find in it matter of the greatest
Importance.
"You ask an indication Of my desire
with regard TO the pending resolution
to which you and Senator Hitchcock
called my attention on Friday, and I
am glad to reply with the utmost
frankness that l should be gravely con-
cerned to see any such resolution pass
the Congress. 1t would constitute a
reversal of our constitutional practice,
which might lead to very grave con-
fusion in regard to the guidance of our
foreign affairs.
81 am confident that l am supported
by every competent constitutional au-
thority in the statement that the in
itiative in directing the relations Of
our government with foreign govern
ments is assiged by the Constitution
to the Executive and to the Executive
only.
"Only one of the two 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 rep
resentatives who are to speak for this
government at foreign capitals.
1.-THE only safe course, l am conf
dent, is to adhere to the prescribed
method of the Constitution. We might
go very far afield if we departed from
It,
81 am very much obliged to you for
wing given me The opportunity to
express this opinion.
Every truly yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
Zion. Albert B. Fall,
"U. S. Senate"
Following the delivery of the letter
from the President, Senator Fall made
public the text of the memorandum
which he gave to the President after
the meeting at the White House Of
Senators Fall and Hitchcock with the
President. In this memorandum Sen
ator Fall laid bare the details of the
conspiracy between officials of the Car
rama government and radical leaders
in the United States and abroad to stir
up anti-American feeling in the border
states. The plot included the estab-
lishment of Soviet republic with its
seat in Colorado, and to include the
states of Texas, Arizona and New
Mexico.
Letters signed by Carranza showing
that he was fully acquainted with the
details of the plot and apparently sane
toned them were included in the mem
Orandum.