Evening star., 1920-04-01
PRESIDENT TELLS
CONGRESS TROOPS
ABROAD UNDER HIM
U. S. Government Disap-
proves Placing Men Under.
Commission.
FOCH HAS NO CONTROL
OVER MEN. HE DECLARES
Maj. Gen. Allen Has Full Author
ity to Act, Executive
Says.

ident Of the United States as COM
mander-in- chief Of the Army, Presi-
dent Wilson wrote Congress today in
response to a resolution of inquiry
adopted by 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. Maj Gen. Allen.
thority." Mr. Wilson added. Ito utilize
his troops for the police of the occu-
pied district. the preservation of order
and to repel any attack which may be
made upon him"
Presfdent's Letter.
The Presidents letter follows:
Il am in receipt of House resolu-
tion 500. adopted March %. 1920. which
reads as follows:
and he is hereby requested. II not in
compatible with the public interest.
to inform the House of the exact
status OF the American military forces
now stationed in German territory:
the scope to which their operations
are confined under the terms Of the
armfstfce between the allied nations
the government of the United States
and Germany; the extent of the au-
thorfty exercised over them by Field
Marshal Ferdinand Foch. commander
in-chief Of the allied forces in the oe-
cupied Rhine provinces, and how far
their activities may be directed with
ont express orders from the President
Of the United States."
! Status ef Troops Abroad.
The American forces in Germany
on March :6 were reported to comprise
.26 officers and 1876 enlisted men.
fhese forces are stationed principally
IN the Coblenz area. They are occupy
Ing that territory under the armistice
agreement. which. with its annexes and
conventions. was transmitted by me TO
the Senate and published as Senate
document 147. Sixty-sixth Congress.
nrst session. The paragraph specifical-
iy covering this occupation is para
graph Of the clauses relating to the
western front
The original arnistice signed on
November IL. 1918. provided that its
deratfon should be thirty-six DAYS.
with option to extend On December
13 the armistice was extended until
3 am. on the 18th day of January.
1918; on January Is. 1919, It was
still further extended until the 18th
day of February. 1919, at a.m.; on
February Is. 1919, 1t was still fur
ther extended to date not fixed. the
allied powers and those associated
with them reserving to themselves
the right to terminate the period at
three days notice.
The American forces in Germany
are at present operating under the
terms OF the original armistice and
the subsequent convention pro1ong-
ing the armistice. The instructions
proposed to be issued to the COM
manding general, American forces in
Germany. at the time OF their occu-
pying tie Coblenz area. were submit
ted to the War Department by Gen.
Pershing and contain the following
statement of policy:
1.-the American forces will. how
ever. 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
each case by the government Of the
United States
Wait On Peace Treaty.
"In reply, it was directed. that 1t
should be stated in the orders issued
to the commanding general. American
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 will be as out
lined
Upon the ratification Of the treaty
Of peace by the allied powers. an
interallied Rhineland high commits
sion was organized in the manner set
dent of the United States to the
Senate. containing the agreement be-
tween the allied and associated
powers and Germany with regard to 4
the military occupation of the ter>
ritories of the Rhine.
This document is published as
Senate document No. 81. Sixty-sixth
Congress. first session.
This. commission having been or
ganiZed and having formulated ordi-
nances for the zone of occupation, the
question arose as to whether these
ordinances should govern in the
American sector. and the representa-
tfves of the State Department and
the commanding general Of the Amer
ed as follows:
This government cannot admit
jurisdiction Of that commission over
portions of Rhinish provinces occu-
pied by the American forces. Conse-
quently neither YOU Representative
Of the State Department. nor Gen. AL
len 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 commits
sion and endeavor in SO far as ros-
sible TO conform administrative re-
gime within territory occupied by
American forces to regime adopted
by high commission for other por-
tions of occupied territory. There is
no objection to your sitting informal 4
Iy with high commission provided
you are requested to do so. nor q
your activities. as well
those of your staff. in connectioI
with special committees to handls
of coal, etc. Ordinances.
orders. regulations. etc., relating to
financial and economic matters. in
cluding those similar to one adopted
by high commission, which 1t IL de-
sired to put into force In territory
occupied by American forces should
be issued by Gen. Allen az command.
ing general of American forces in
Germany, but only after having frsr
been approved by you.
I'm general, endeavor to cooperate
fully with high commission and avoid
all friction with that body, while ~
the same time make IL perfectly ia
tset yeu are still operating us