New-York tribune., 1919-08-22
NetU York Tribune
Wush,u atom Burecu

Ne,u York Tribune
Washington Burecu
WASHINGTON, Aug 21.-Presiden
Wilson replied to-day in a letter to
Senator Fall to the set of twenty ques-
tions on the treaty of peace presented
in writing by the Senator from New
Mexico at the conference of the mem
bers of the Foreign Relations Commit
tee at the White House Tuesday,.
The President told Senator Fall, in
response to the first four OF the writ
ten queries, that he could 'in no cir
cumstances consent" to any movement
to terminate the war with Germany
prior to the ratification of the treaty
of peace.
Senator Fall is the author of reso-
luton now in the hands of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee declar-
ing the war at an end. His first four
questions dealt with whether the Presi-
dent had power, by proclamation, to
declare the war terminated; whether
Congress, Joined by the President
could not declare peace in advance OF
the ratification of the treaty; whether
the filing of the first process verbal
did not terminate the state of war
and whether all governmental relations
with Germany could not be resumed
as soon as the first process verbal was
filed, regardless OF the Senate's action
on the peace treaty.
Presidents Reply
The President, answering the four
questions as one, replied:
II feel constrained to say in reply to
your first question not only that in my
judgment | have not the power by proc
lamation to declare that peace exists,
but that I could in no circumstances
consent to take such course prior to
the ratification of formal treaty of
peace. | feel it due to perfect frank
ness to say that it would, in my opin-
ion, put a stain upon our national
honor which we never would efface if
after sending our men to the battle
field to fight the common cause we
should abandon our associates in the
war in the settlement of the terms of
peace and dissociate ourselves from all
responsibility with regard to thoss
terms"
Senator Fall regarded the Presidents
answer as confirming his belief that
Congress, the President consenting, has
power to terminate the state of war by
the adoption of his resolution. The
President said he could not consent; in
other words that he would veto such a
resolution if it were passed He did
not deny the power Of Congress, the
body that declared war, to declare
peace. and Senator Fall inferred he did
not deny that such resolution could
be made effective by being passed over
the veto of the Executive.
Questions and Replies
The text OF the Presidents letter and
the context of Senator Falls questions
follow, the questions being set in italic
preceding Mr. Wilson's replies:
"My Dear Senator Fall:
"You left yesterday in my hands
certain written questions which |
promised you | would answer. | am
Fastening to fulfil that promise.
1.-Can you not declare peace er,sts
and thus end the abnormal conditions OF
q state Of aCor!
II fell constrained to say in reply
TO your first question not only that in
my judgment 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 the ratification of a formal
treaty of peace. | feel it due to per-
feet frankness to say that it would.
IN my opinion, put stain upon our
national 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 in the war in the settlement OF
the terms of peace and dissociats
ourselves from all responsibility with
regard to these terms"
2.-As Germany did not declare ,0ny
on as, could not you and Congress to-
gether declare peoces
S.-is not the treaty ptereyu q set Of
rules for the observance of peace. and ;x
NOT the state of wcr ended by the frat
h'iag Of the process verbal?
4--Ihe icoy being thus ended. could
mot eonsuts be appointed and comm syc,o,
relations vith Germany resumeds
81 respectfully suggest that. h.~