The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-05-27
The presidents message follows

The presidents message follows.
TO the house of representatives:
return, herewith, without my signature,
house joint resolution, S27. intended to
repeal the joint resolution of April G.
l9l7, declaring a state of war to exist
| between the United States and Ger
many and the joint resolution OF Dec,
Z, 1917, declaring state of war to
exist between the United States and
| the Austro- Hungarian government, and
to declare state of peace. have not
felt at liberty to sign this joint reso
| luton because / can not bring myself
to become party to an action which
would place uneffacable stain upon the
gallantry and honor of the United
States.
The resolution seeks to establish
peace with the German empire without
exacting from the German government
any action by way Of setting right the
definite wrongs which 1t did to the
peoples whom Il attacked and whom
we profess 1t our purpose, to assist when
ficed the lives of more than 100 900
Americans and ruined the lives of
| thousands of others and brought upon
thousands Of American families unhap-
piness that can never end for purposes
which. we do not now care to state or
| take further steps to attain. The at
tainment OF these purposes is provided
for in the treaty of Versailles by terms
deemed adequate by the leading states
men and experts of all tho great peo-
pies who were associated in the war
against Germany. Do we now not care
I'VE entered the war most reluc-
tantly Our people we're profoundly
| disinclined to take part in European
war and at last did so, only because
they became convinced that II could
not in truth be regarded as only q
1 HNIrnnAnn NrroR but OF hA
as war in which civilization itself
was involved and human rights OF
| every kind as against beligerent gov
ernment. Moreover, when we entered
the war we set forth very definitely
the purposes for which we entered
considered as merely taking part in
a European contest. This joint resolu-
| tion which / return does not seek to
accomplish any of these objects, but in
effect makes a complete surrender of
the rights of the United States so far
as the German government Is con-
cerned.
A treaty of peace was signed at Yer
| sailles June 2S last which did seek to
accomplish the objects which we had
declared to be in our minds, because
i all the great governments and peoples
which united against Germany had
adopted our declarations of purposes
as their own and had in solemn form
embodied them in communications to
the German government preliminary to
the arnistice Of Nov. II, 1918. But the
treaty as signed at Versailles has been
rejected by the senate OF the United
States, though it has been ratified by
Germany BY that rejection and by
| it's methods we have in effect declared
that we wish to draw apart and pur-
sue objects and interests of our own,
not hampered by any connections OF
| interests or purpose with other govern
ments and peoples.
Notwithstanding the fact that upon
our entrance into the war We professed
to he seeking to assist in the mainten-
ance Of common interests, nothing is
| said in this resolution about the free
| dom OF navigation upon the seas, or
the reduction of armaments,, or the
vindicatlon of the rights of Belgium, OF
| the rectification of wrongs done to
France, or the release of the Christian
populations of the Ottoman empire from
the intolerable subjugation which they
endure, or the establishment OF an
| Independent Polish state, or the
continued maintenance OF any
| kind OF understanding among
the great powers OF the Worlc
which would be calculated &c
prevent in the future such outrage'
as Germany attempted, and in part con
| summated. We have now in effect de-
clared that we do not care to take
any further risks or assume any fur
ther responsibilities with regard to tho
| freedom of nations or the sacredness Of
| international obligations or the safety
of Independent peoples. Such peace
with Germany-a peace In which none
of the essential interests which we hac
at heart when we entered the war Is
| safeguarded--is, or ought to be incon'
ceivable, is inconsistent with the dig
nity of the United States with the
rights and liberties of her citizens, and
with the very fundamental conditions
Of civilization.
u hope that in these statements
| have sufficiently set forth the reasons
why ! have have teit 1t nas,mnd incumbent upon me
WOODROW WILSON, White House
| y May. 1920"