Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-04-02
AMERICAN TROOPS $
 0N RHINE: SUBJECT n WI S0N'S ORDERS
There Under Conditions of Armistice, He
 Says

Washington, April 1-America1 troops on the Rhine are subject on 1 ly to the orders of the president ot i the United States as commander il chief of the army. President Wilson wrote congressman in response to z , resolution of inquiry adopted by tn, house.
 i The American troops and the ter rtory they control still are govern ed by the terms of the armistice, the president said. He disclosed that the American government had dis approved plans to have the troops and the territory placed under the orders of the Rhineland high com- mission.
 Marshall Ferdinand Foch has no authority over the American troops, the president said. Major General Allen, commanding the forces, "has full authority,"' Mr Wilson added, "to utilize his troops for the police of the occupied district. the preser- vation of order and to repel any attacks which may be made upon him"
 The president said the American forces in Germany on March 26 were reported to comprise TIC off cers and 16,756 enlisted men,"
 tIfrbn h in Eop- many" the president wrote, "are at present operating under the terms of the original armistice and the the armstice.
 The instructions proposed to be is sued to the commanding general, American headquarters in Germany, at the time of their occupying the Coblcnz area were submitted to the war department by General Pershing and contain the following statement of policy; .,,
 ever, undertake no action beyond the orcnniad regions, nor beyond that incircv> I the terms.
 "The American forces beyond that mentioned above must be specific ally authorized in excess by the gov ernment of the United StateA
 "In reply, it was decided that it should be stated in the orders is sued to the commanding general American forces in Germany, that the function of the American forces in Germany at present is to enforce the conditions of the armistice and that when a peace treaty shall have been ratified by the United States, the function of the American forces would be outlined.'
 "Upon the ratification of the treaty of peace by the allied pow CTS and the inter-allied Rhineland high commission was organized in the manner set forth in a message from the president of the United States containing the agreement between the allied and associated powers and Germany with regard to the military occupation of the territories of the Rhine. The commission having been organized and having formulat- ed organs for the zone of occupa- tion. the question arose as to wheth- CT these orders should govern in the American sector, and the represen- tatives of the state department and the commanding general of the American forces in Germany were instructed as follows:
 "This government cannot admit jurisdiction of that commission over portions of Rhenlsh provinces occupied by the American forces. Consequently, neither you Representative of the state depart ment) nor General Allen should is- sue any ordinances which conflict with or exceed the terms of the armistice, which the department (of state) regards as continuing in force as to the United States. You should: however, maintain the closest touch with the high commission and endea- vor in so far as possibility to conform Administrative measures within ter ritory occupied by American forces to regime adopted by high commits mission for other portions of occu- pied territory. There is no objec- tion to your sitting in formally with high commission provided you are renuested to do so, nor of continuing vour activities as we'll as these of vour, staff. in connection with spe- cial committees.
 "In general, endeavor to cooper ate fully with high commission and aver friction with that body, while at the same time make it perfectly clear that you are still operating under the armistice, as before Janu- ary 10 and are in now way bound by the terms of the Rhineland agree ment or the memorandum of June 13. 1919, defining the relations be- tween the military authorities and the high~commfssion.
 "Replying specifically to the re- h1aining question in the resolutions of the house representatives, l will state that Field Marshal Ferdinand
 (Continued on Page 6.)