The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-04-02
ARMISTICE IS
Still IN FORCE
In Reply to House Query Pres
ident Clearly Defines Status
of Troops on the Rhine.
FOCH HAS NO AUTHORITY
General Allan Commanding Is
Subject Only to Orders of
President of United States e

Washington, April American
troops on the Rhine are subject only
to the orders of the president of the
United States as commander in chief
of the American army President Will
son wrote congress today in response
the house.
The American troops and the terri
tory they control still are governed
by the terms of the armistice, the
president said. He disclosed that the
American government had disap-
proved plans to have the troops and
the territory placed under the orders
of the Rhineland high commission.
Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch has
no authority over the American troops,
the president said. Major General
Allen, commanding the forces has full
authority Mr.. Wilson added, ito util-
ize his troops for policing of the oc-
cupied district, the preservation of
order and to repel any attack which
may be made upon him.
The president said the American
forces IN sierma11y on MarxI, 90 ssscre
reported to comprise 726 officers and
1886 enlisted men"
THE American forces in Germany
the president wrote are at present
operating under the terms of the orig
inal armistice and the subsequent con-
vention prolonging the armistice. Af
ter the formation of the Rhineland
commission, the president safo, the
question arose as to whether its ordin-
ances should govern in the American
sector and the representatives 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 Rhinish provinces occu-
pied by the American forces. Con-
sequently, neither you representative
of the state departmen0 nor General
Allen should issue any ordinance which
conflict with or exceed the terms OF
the armistice, which the department
(of state) regards 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 with the administrative regime
within the territory occupied by
American forces to the regime adopted
by the high commission for other por-
tions of the occupied territory There
is no objection to you sitting infor-
mally with the high commission pro-
yided you are requested to do so; nor
of continuing your activities, as well
as those of your staff, in connection
with special committees to handle dis
tribution of coal, etc. Ordinances,
orders, regulations. ETC., relating to
financial and economic matters in
cluding those similar to one adopted
by high commission, which it is de-
sired to put into force in territory
occupied by the 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 cooperate fully
with the high commission and avoid
all friction with that body, 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 agreement or the
memorandum of June 13, 1919 de-
filming the relations between the mill
tary authorities and the high COM
mission.