Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1919-07-19
INVOLVE DRY LAW
IN TREATY ACTION
Palmer Holds That Peace Proc
lamation Depends on the
Senate's Course.
VETS TRY TO UNITE BILLS.
Working in Congress TO Cause Delay
In the Enforcement Legislation
Expect Statement From vii.
son-Roots Ruling in 1899

Washington The question whether
President Wilson viii consider It pos
sible 10 declare Il state OF peace prior
TO ratification ~ the treaty OF peace
by the United States senate was much
discussed when Il became known that
not only the full resumption Of trade
relations with Germany, but the lifting
OF The ban Oh wartime prohibition
might be- involved in his decision.
interpretations les Attorney General
Palmer made It appear TINT In his
opinion President Wilson might not
feel TINT he was empowered t. issue y
proclamation Of peace prior 10 the Nc
tunl ratification of the treaty by the
senate without reservations, which
would threaten 10 uulifS It's validity.
Mr. Palmer held also that the pro
visions ~ the trading with the enemy
act and the wartime prohibition act
would remain effective until declara
tinn Of peacc by The President, and
HAT, therefore, II might not be within
the power of tile President 10 lift com
plctely the bans provided for by these
acts until there had been ratification
uf the treaty by the senate.
The section Of the trading with the
enemy act which covers this point pro.
vides that "ihc end Of the war shall
be the date Of the proclamation Of the
exchange Of raiiticaiions Of the treaties
In
declares II prior date, in which event
such prior date shnll lie The end " the
war"
An Interpretation OF this section Is
that the treaty must be ratified by the
senate before peace can be proclaimed
formally, but that after such ratifca
ton the President may. IN his discre.
ton. proclaim peace without waiting
for the actual physical exchange Of the
ratitications
The wartime prohibition issue be
came tangled up In the controversy
when attention was called TO the fact
that the prohibition legislation provld
ed that It should be unlawful to sell
liquor after June 30 1919 until the
conclusion OF the present war and
thereafter until the termination Of de
mobIlizati, !, the date OF which shall
be determined and proclaimed by the
President, etc.
II IS expected thar this situation VIII
be clarified by the President shortly
after his return 10 the United States
next week. when he will have an op
portunlty to obtain first hand lnfarma
tion concerning the general situation In
regard To the peace treaty and 70 eoh.
fer with the attorney general. II l.
possible that formal announcement
will be made al that time which VIII
end all doubt.
In the meantime opponents or the
League ~ Nations covenant are max
Ing the charge that there Is a tendency
on the part OF administration Leaders
to rally about them in support OF quick
ratification nj the peace treaty tht
"wciS," who are anxious that the war
time prohibition ban shall be lifted
within the next six or eight weeks, anu
business interests which wish 10 end rs
quickly may be any question as 10
The resumption Of trade relations with
enemy countries.
The situation IS somewhat complt-
Gated because there has not been. so
fur as can be learned. any formal de-
cision by the attorney general pre-
pared upon official request for the
guidance OF the government Inter
pretations which have been published
are informal in nature
Elihu Root. When secretary OF wal
In 1899 took the position that the
Spanish war ended when the peace
treaty had been ratified hy both IN.
tons