Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-05
WAR IS DECLARED
At AN END WITH
CENTRAL POWERS

resolution of congress declaring wal
with Germany and Austria-Hungar9
at an end was signed here late Sat
urday by President Harding.
The president affixed his signature
to the measure at $40 p. M, eastern
standard time, at the home of Sena'
tor Joseph S. Frelinghuysen. where
he is spending the weekend.
There is some doubt as to the ex-
act time the state of peace becomes
effective. Speaker Gillette said ne
believed the document might require
certification by the state department
before becoming operative.
The peace resolution was signed IN
the living room of Senator FREEING
huysen's residence, 1.-THE Hill"
Mr.. Harding sat at an old manog-
any table. He used a small, black
handled pen, which will be present
ed to Representative Porter, who
drafted the final form of the resolu-
ton. Surrounding him as he sign
Speaker Gillette, Senator kellogg, Sen
ator Hale and DR.. Sawyer, his per-
sonal physician.
Returning from a golf game at
Bernardsville, n. J., this afternoon
the president found w. Smlthers, OIL
the White House executive staff,
awaiting him with the document. Mr..
= e o.
ton this morning. The president first
sat on the veranda and read the res
olution through. Then he went into
the living room, carefully adjusted
his glasses, and affixed his signature,
remarking to those crowded about
him: That's it,
Tomorrow the president will at
tend the Dutch Reformed church, at
Raritan, n. J. He will remain here
over the fourth, returning to Wash
ington early Tuesday morning.
SIGNING OF RESOLUTION
INTERPRETED IN CAPITAL
WASHINGTON, July 2.-Signing
of the resolution declaring state
of peace with Germany and austria,
1t was held here, ended today the
technical state of war with those
powers. There was some difference
Of opinion among lawyers of the ad-
ministration and diplomats as to
whether the affixing of the presi-
dents signature ended the state of
war at the exact moment of the
signing, or whether the resolution
would be held to be in force all of
today in the view that such acts
might not require taking into con-
sideration fractions of a day.
The view also was expressed by
one or two that the state of peace
legally would not be considered in
effect until the resolution had been
deposited in the state department
but almost generally the opinion
was held that the state of war
ended today.
The next step, it was pointed out,
would be the issuing of the formal
peace proclamation which would be
expected within a few days. This,
1t was added, would be mere form
dIlly anu III It's S1ISCI "Ou1u udIS
from today.
The proclamation, it was explain
ed, would be by President Harding
and signed in addition by Secretary
Hughes. ..
A treaty of peace then would be
negotiated, it was said, but the ad-
ministration is understood not to
have developed as yet the steps by
which it will undertake such nego-
tiations. The signing of the resolu-
ton, it was added, opens the way for
the resumption of diplomatic rela-
tions between the United States and
the former enemy powers, although
it has been indicated that the man.
ner in which this will be approached
has not been determined.
The issuing of the peace procla-
nation as of today, it was pointed
out, would operate to terminate war
time laws which have not previously
been repealed by the congressional
action. Among the more important
are the trading with the enemy act,
and the liberty bond acts.