Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-21
President Mailing Answers
to Questions Propounded
at White House.
PEACE AS AID TO :.
DECREASED PRICE
President Says Ratification Of Treaty
Would Lead to Reduced Cost Of Liv.
Ing Both at Home and Abroad
Consressnnan Objects to Sale Of
Army Supplies Abroad Because Of
Great Need at Home.

Washington. Aug. 81. - President
Wilson has not the power to declare
peace by proclamation nor could he
consent in any circumstance to take
such a course prior to the formal rati-
fication Of the treaty Of peace by the
senate. The president so wrote Sena-
tor Fall in answer to one of the ques-
tions asked him at the White House
Tuesday. Replying to another oues-
tion the president said >the treaty
would come into force after a ratifi-
cation by three powers. including Ger
many, and that 1t would be question
able" il it can be said that the league
or nations is created in any true sense
by the association of any three allied
governments. To Senator Falls ques-
tions relating to the disposition Of any
OF Germany's possessions the president
said the treaty conveyed no title to the
the disposition of the territory in
4ucStlOu 10 lUelT uGClSlOu.
As to the question of when normal
conditions would be restored the pres
ident said he could only say the rati-
fication Of the treaty as suggested
would within the near future reduce
the cost Of living" both IN this country
and abroad.
"Germany,s renunciation in favor Of
the principal allied. and associated
powers" the presideh continued, 'of
her rights and titles as to overseas
possessions IL meant to operate as a
trusteeehip with respect to their final
disposition and government"
Text Of Presidents Letter.
The presidents letter follows: Is
My Dear Senator Fall: You left
yesterday in my hands certain written
questions which / promised you 4
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 / have not the power by
proclamation to declare that peace
exists, but that could in no scircum-
stances consent to take such course
prior to ratification Of a formal
treaty Of peace. feel II due to perfect
frankness to say that 1t would. in my
opinion, put stain upon national
honor which we never could efface II,
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
-espnnsibllity with regard to those
terms.
Z II respectfully suggest that, having
said this, have in effect answered
also your second, third and fourth
questions 30 far as myself am con-
cerned.
THREE Nations Not League.
Permit me to answer your fifth
question by saying that the provisions
of the treaty, to which you refer,
operate merely to establish peace be-
tween the powers ratifying. and that It
Is questionable whether it can be said
that the league OF nations is in any
true sense created by the association
ciated governments.
A TN reply to your sixth question. I
can only express the confident opin-
ion that the immediate adoption Of the
treaty along with the article Of the
covenant Of the league as written
would certainly. within the near
future. reduce the cost Of living in
fhss country as elsewhere, by restoring
prodnction and commerce to their
normal strength and freedom.
Not Informed as TO Nsutrals.
For your convenience, will number
the remaining paragraphs OF this
letter as the questions they are In
tended to reply are numbered.
~ have had no official informa-'
tlon a. TO whether Norway, Sweden.
Denmark .pr Switzerland will Join the
league.
~ 7 answered your eighth question
infreply to a question asked me at your
conference the other day (This ques-
tion referred to licensing OF exports to
Germany.
-. IN February, 1917, Spain was re-
queeted to take charge OF American
in Germany thru her diplo-
matte and consular Representatives
and no other arrangement has been
made.
- y 9 he committee 30 prepare .,iIis; IL;
for the organization Of the league, for
the establishment Of the seat Of the
league, and the proceedings Of the
first meeting of the assembly has been
appointed, but has not reported.
German Colonies in Trust.
\ III. Article 11s OF the peace treaty.
part 4. under which Germany re-
nounces all her rights to territory for
merly belonging to herself or to her
allies. was understood. so far as special
provision was not made in the treaty
itself for It's disposition. as constitut-
Ing the principal allied and assoc
cIated powers the authority by which
snch disnns!tlon should ultimately. be
determined. It conveys no title to
those powers. but merely eritrusts the
disposition Of the territory in question
70 their decision.
Va sa - q e asesnnany's renunciation In favor Of