The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-21
WILSON ANSWERS
FALLS QUESTIONS
ON PEACE TREATY
President Writes Definite Re-
plies to Twenty Queries
Submitted to Him--Says He
Cannot Proclaim Peace.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.--President
Wilson has not the power TO declare
peace by proclamation. nor could he
consent in any circumstances TO take
such course prior to the ratification
OF formal treaty OF peace by the SEN
ate. The president so wrote Senator
Fail today in answer to one of the 20
written questions the senator present.
| Tuesday,
Replying to another question the
president said the provision of the
treaty that 1t should come into force
after ratification by Germany and three
or the principal associated powers
operated merely to establish peace be-
tween those ratifying powers and that
1t was questionable whether 1t
can be said that the league of nations
is In any true sense created by the as
| sociation OF only three of the allied and
| associated governments"
As TO the question of when normal
conditions might be restored, the presi-
| dent said he could only express the
| confident opinion that immediate rati-
| fication of the treaty and acceptance
Of the covenant of the league as written
would certainly within the, near future
reduce the cost of living" both in this
| country and abroad through the re-
storation Of production and commerce
| to normal.
TO Senator Falls questions relating
to the disposition Of Germany's pos
sessions, the president said the
treaty conveyed no title to the
merely 'intrusts disposition of the
territory in question to their decision. :"
| "Germany's Jrenunciation In favor OF
| the principal allied and associated pow
ers," the president continued, 'of her
rights and titles to her overseas pos
| ie In aFlN tn q
as vesting In those powers a. trustee
| ship with respect Of their final dispo-
| siton and government"
There Mas been a provisional agree
ment," the president added, In this con-
nection, "as to the disposition Of these
| tion and execution Is dependent upon
the approval of the league of nations
and..the United States is party to that
provisional agreement"
Explains Agreement.
The president said the only agree
ment between France and Great Britain
with regard to African territory, OF
iwhich he-was eognizant,- concerned re-
disposition of rights already possessed
i by them on that continent.
/ II was deemed wise, he said. that the
| United States should be represented
by one member of the commission for
settling the new frontier lines of Bel
i giurh. and Germany because of the
universal opinion that Americas repre-
sentative would add to the commission
useful element Of entirely disinter-
4 ested Judgment" The same thought
! applied, he added, 10 appointment Of
an American representative on the com
mission set up to exercise authority
/ over the piebiscite in upper Silesa,
The. president wrote the senator he
had no official information as to
| whether 1. Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
Holland or Switzerland would join the
league.
The presidents letter follows:
MY Dear Senator Fall---You left yes
terday in my hands certain written
questions which promised you would
answer. | am Fastening to fulfill that
promise.
II feel constrained to say in reply to
your first question not only that In my
judgment l have not the power by
proclamation to declare that peace ex-
lists, but that I could In no circum-
stances consent to take such a course
prior to the ratification Of a formal
treaty of peace | feel 1t due to per-
feet frankness to say that 1t would in
my opinion put a stain upon our ma
tional honor which we never could ef-
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