The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-27
Refuses to Put Signature to
Knox Peace Resolution.
Declares Move Complete Sur
render of U. S. Rights.
SENDS MESSAGE TO SENATE
Gives Reason That No Terms of
Peace Mentioned.
Bitterly AssaiIs Senate for Re-
fusing Versailles Pact.

Washington, May 81. President
Wilson today vetoed the Knox peace
resolution declaring an end to the war
between the United States and Ger
many and Austria Hungary.
The resolution. Wilson declared, is
in effect a complete surrender of the
rights of the United States so far as
the German government is concerned.
Vote Postponed to Friday.
An attempt to override the veto will
be made, first vote in the house be-
cause the resolution originated there.
All votes so far have shown the back
strength to override in either the
house or senate.
The house voted to postpone until
tomorrow any effort to override the
presidents veto.
BY the rejection of the treaty of
Versailles, Wilson said 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
unhampered by any connections of
interest or of purpose with other gov
ernments and peoples"
Condemns Resolution.
Wilson bitterly condemned the reso-
luton, declaring it said nothing about
the purpose for which we entered the
war. He listed among these freedom
of the seas, reduction of armaments,
vindicatiou of the rights of Belgium,
lease of Christians under Turkish rule,
and Polish outrages
Such a peace with Germany
peace in which none of the essential
interests which we had at heart when
we entered the war is safeguarded-
inconsistent with the dignity of the
United States, with the rights and
liberties of our citizens and with the
very fundamental conditions of civil
ization."
Sounds Democratic keynote.
The president had been expected
to sound the keynote of the Demo-
cratic fight for ratification in this
message and his friends in both houses
of congress declared they heard this
keynote in the words 81 have not felt
at liberty to sign this joint resolution
because I cannot bring myself to be-
come party to an action which would
lantry and honor of the United
States"
This was taken as a direct chal-
lenge to the treaty opponents to make
on a fight on ratification as a question
of honor This is the line of argument
taken by Wilson in his speech on the
treaty, when he referred to it's enemies
as "ouitters," which indicates the
president is standing pat" and has
not altered his ideas about the treaty
or his reasons why it should be ac-
cepted.
Text of the Message.
The text of President Wilson's mes
sage vetoing the Knox peace resolu-
ton follows:
To the House of Representatives:
''I return herewith. without my sigma
ture, house joint resolution 32T, intended to
repeal the joint resolution April 6. 1917,
declaring a state of war to exist between
the United States and Germany, and the
Joint resolution of December Z, 1917. de-
ella ring a state of war to exist between the
United States and the Austro- Hungarian
government, and to declare state Of
peace.
Il have not felt at liberty to sign this
Joint resolution because L cannot bring
would place ineffaceabie 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 infinite wrongs
which 1t did the peoples whom it attacked
and whom We professed 1t our purpose to
assist when we entered rne war.
Have we sacrificed the lives of more
than 100000 Americans and ruined the
lives of thousands of others and brought
upon thousands of American families an
unhappiness that can never end, for puY-
poses 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 statesmen and
experts of all the great peoples who as
sociated in the war against Germany. Do
we now care to join in the effort to Sc
cure them?
Calls 1t Surrender.
I'VE entered the war most reluctantly,
Our people were profoundly disinclined
to take part in European war and at
convinced that it could not in truth be
regarded only a European war, but
must be regarded as a war in which civil
iZatfon itself was involved and human
rights of every kind as against a beIliger-
| ent government Moreover, when we en-
tered the war we set forth very definitely
I the purposes for which We entered. partly
because we did not wish TO be considered
as merely taking part in European con-
| test
'-This Joint resolution which 1 return
| does not seek to accept any of these OBJ
| jects. But in effect makes complete sur
render Of the rights Of the United States
SO far as the German government is con
cerned. A treaty of peace was signed a
| Versailles on the 2Sfh of June last, which
j We had declared to be in our minds, be
| cause all the great governments and peo
| pies which united against Germany hat
: adopted our declarations of purposes al
| their own and had in solemn form EN-
bodied them in communications to thu
| German government preliminary to th'
| armistice of November IL, 1918
But the treaty as signed at Versailles
! has been rejected by the senate of th'
United States, tho it has been ratified
| by Germany BY that rejection and BY
its method we have in effect declared tha
we wish to draw apart and pursue OBJ
: jeets and interests of our own. unham
| pered by any connections of interests Of
< purpose with other governments and peo
pies.
| Mentions No Terms
| s'Notwith standing the fact that upoI
! our entrance into the war we professed Il
| be seeking to assist in the maintenance,
of common interests, nothing is said in thil
/ rsolution about the freedom of navigation
( upon the seas, or the reduction OF arma
| mnts or the vfndf-ation of the rights o.
/ Belgium, or the recrification Of wrong
(Continued on Page six.l