Arizona republican., 1920-04-02
WILSON DEF INES STATUS OF DUR
 OVERSEAS ARMY
Replying to House Resolu- tion, President Says He Alone Directs the Activi- ties of American Troops On Rhine.
[RepubIIcan A. p. Leased wirel


 WASHINGTON. April 1-President Wilson informed the house today in re- sponse to a resolution of inquiry, that American troops on the Rhine still were controlled by the terms of the arrnis- tice, and were subject only to his orders as commander in chief of the army
 Field Marshal Foch of France. the president said, has no Jurisdiction over the troops. nor are they in any way controlled by the decisions of the allied Rnlneland commission. which makes ordlnanceS and rules for the governing or the territory policed by the allied armies of occupation.
 Major General Allen, commanding tne American troops, the president wrote. has authority to police the terri tory under his control to preserve order: and ito repel any attack which may be made upon him.
 The president added that the Ameri- can forces in Germany on March 26, were reported to comprise 726 officers and 16,I56 enlisted men,"
 The American forces in Germany" me president wrote, "are at present operating under the terms Of the orig inal armistice and the subsequent con- Nention prolonging the armistice. The instructions are proposed to be issued to the commanding general American forces in Germany, at the time of their
 
 mitted to the war department by Gen eral Pershing and contain the following statement of policy:
 The American forces will undertake no action beyond the occupied regions, nor beyond that in strict accordance with the terms of the treaty Any use Of the American forces beyond that mentioned above must be specifically ] authorized in each case by the govern -a ment of the United States.
 Enforce Armistice Conditions
 Tn reply, it was directed that it be | stated in the orders to the commanding general, American forces in Germany, 1 that the function of the American n | force the conditions of the armistice i and that when peace treaty shall have ! been ratified by the United States. the i function of the American forces will be as outlined.'
 Upon the ratification of the treaty of peace by the allied powers. an inter- | allied Rhineland high commission was | organized in the manner set forth in | a message from the president of the | nited States to the senate, containing the agreement between the allied and | associated powers and Germany with l. regard to the military occupation of the | territories of the Rhine.
 This commission having been or ganized, and having formulated ordi- nances for the zone of occupati ton. the | question arose as to whether these or dfnances should govern in the Ameri- can sector, and the representatives of tho state department and the com manding general of the American l forces in Germany were instructed as follows:
 This government cannot admit ju- risdiction of that commission over por- tions of Rhenish provinces occupied by the American forces. Consequently. neither you Representative of the state department) nor General Allen should issue 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 endeavor insofar as possible to con- form administrative regime within territory occupied by American forces. to regime adopted by high commis- sion for other portions of occupied ter ritory. There is no objection to your sitting informally with high commits sion provided you are requested to do so, nor of continuing your actiyi- ties. well as those of your staff in connection with special committees to handle distributions of coal, etc.1 Ordinances, orders. regulations. etc, relating to financial and economic matters. including those similar to one adopted by high commission, which ii is desired to put into force in ter ritory occupied by American forces. should be issued by General Allen as commanding general of American forces in Germany, but only after hav- ing first been approved by you. In general. endeavor to cooperslte with high commission and avoid all friction with that hody. while at the same time make it perfectly clear that you are still operating under the armistice as before January 10 and are in no way bound by the terms of the Rhineland a agreement or the memorandum of June 13, 1919. defining the relations between the military authorities and the high commission
 Foch Has No Authority
 Replying specifically to the remain ing questions in the resolutions of the house of representatives. I will state that Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch has no authority over the United States troops in German territory, nor can anyone direct their activities with out express orders from the president of the United States.