Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-21
PRESIDENT CANNOT PROCLAIM
PEACE BEFORE SENA TIE RA TlFlES
TREATY, HE ANSWERS MR.. FALL
Senator Falls Questions;
President Wilson's AnSUexs

ITeSiuent w lISOn follow.
81. In your judgment, have you
not the power and authority. by
proclamation, to declare in ap-
propriate words that peace exists.
and thus restore the status of
peace between the governments
and peoples of this country and
those with whom we declared war?
"2. Could not. in any event, the
power which declared war-that is.
Congress-joinedb by the President.
as you affixed your approval of
the declaration of war. by a reso-
luton, or ace of Congress. declare
peace, as Germany did not declare
war upon us?
"3. Is not the. pending treaty.
aside from the league covenant:
regulations, to be observed after
peace is established. and is not the
state of war terminated merely
by the filing of the first process
verbal?
~. The state of war being thus
ces-verbal, although we may not
yet. have ratified the treaty, Ger
many not having declared war
upon us. could you not appoint or
reappoint consular officers ana
agents in Germany. and by a proc
authorize our citizens, and without
further delay resume governmental
relations with Germany, ana
would we not then be OF of a war
basis rs to business?
Termination of State of War.
"5. The agreement of the sigma
tories to the treaty is that from the
coming into force Of the present
treaty. the state Of war will termi-
nate
"And under article 40 it is pro-
vided that as soon as the treaty snau
have been ratified by Germany on the
one hand and by hree Of the prin-
Gipal allied and associated powers on
the other hand, the first process
verbal of the deposit Of ratification
will be drawn and from the date OF
this first process-verbal the treaty Will
come into force between the hign
contracting parties who have rau-
fed it,
Am correct in assuming:
"(a) That when three Of the princi-
pal allied powers shall have ratffed
the treaty with Germany and the
proces-verbal ID filed, the league OF
nations IL then established.
"(b( That an the other provisions
Of the treaty with Germany are In
fun Norce TO to such ratifying powers.
"{c) That ~ to the two remainlng
powers, should they not have r1uneo
il 1.-THE one being the associated pow
er-the United stated. the state OF
war win terminate, although the
particular terms Of the treaty itseK
will not be in force as to such non
ratifyfng powers. =,
"(d) That such last powers will
not be members. Of the league until
and unless thereafter they have
either ratified the treaty and the
League articles, or shall have been
otherwise accepted Into the league
under the provisions Of the league
articles as they now stand or as they
may be in force at the time OF ad-
mission?
sc. However desirable it might
be to have the treaty Immediately
adopted, with the articles OF the
covenant Of the league as written.
by what process will this. In view
of your statement as to largely in
creased export. within the near
future or within one or two more
years. reduce in this country the
rentals, cost of necessaTies. etc?
Expression Of European Nations.
~. Have you heard from Nor
way, Sweden. Denmark. Holland
and switzerland: or either, as to
whether they will join the league
and when?
"8. Are>you issuing. or allowing
to be issued. en- bloc or otherwise.
licenses to do business with those
recently our enemies, and are you
allowing ships and cargoes des-
tined to ports of Germany or other
recent enemy ports to clear from
our ports?
representatives of other countries
to act for US in Germany?
10. Among the documents for
warded on the Sth instant to the
chairman of the committee. by
yourself. under No. 6, following the
final report of the commission
upon the league articles. find the
following recommendation: Re-
solved. That in the opinion OF the
commission the president of the
commission should be requested by
the conference to invite seven
powers, including two neutraIs. to
name Representatives on commit
tee (A) to prepare plans for the
organization of the league; (B) to
prepare plans for the establish
ment of the seat of the league;
Co to prepare plans and the
agenda for the first meeting Of the
assembly,
WAS this committee appointed
and have they reported tentatively
to the commission or to yourself.
and II so. is a copy of such report
available?
Remuneration Of Rights.
al. Under article 11s of the
peace treaty, part w there is a
general remuneration of all German
rights to territory formerly be-
longing to herself or to her allies
and a remuneration of all her
rights. titles and privileges outside
of her boundaries as fixed by the
treaty which she held as against
There is no cessiOn. apparently, of
the territory to any particular
power or association of powers,
but there is an understanding on
the part of Germany to recognize
and conform to the measures which
may be taken now. or in the flu
ture by the principal allied and as
ISOLATED powers in agreement.
where necessary. with third pow
ers in order to carry the above
stipulation into effect
ITO what nation, nations or as
sociations of nations does the ter
ritory renowned under this arti-
Gle go, aside from such portions as
are specifically assigned to certain
nations or plebiscite commissions
by the particular article Of the Ger
man treaty. and by what character
of title and what part, II any. does
the United States take or has she
taken, with reference to the dispo-
sition of such property?
IL. Article 119, section j, of part