The Washington herald., 1921-07-03
-
Nations New Status Is
Technical" Officials
Here Explain.
SOME DOUBT IF
& YET EFFECTIVE
NAt Step Questionable; 4;
aseyising Versailles
Treaty Talked.

RARIrAN, N. J.. July .. - The
Knox-Porter resolution declaring
peace between the United States
and the Central Powers was signed
by President Harding here late this
afternoon
There is some doubt ss to the
exaGt time the state Of peace be-
comes effective Speaker Gillette
said he believed the document might
require certification BY the State
Department before becoming oper-
atiye.
The resolution was signed in the
living room of Senator Frelinghuy-
sens residence, The Hills" where
the President is spending the week
end and Fourth of July holiday.
Porter to Get Pen.
The President sat at an old ma
hogany table and used a small
black-handled pen. which will be
presented to Representative Porter
who drafted the tinal fora of the
resolution. Surrounding him as ne
signed were Senator Frelinghuysen
Speaker Gillette, Senator Kellogg
Senator Hale, and DR.. Sawyer, his
personal physician.
Returning from a golf game al
Bernardsville, N. J., the President
found W. Smitbers, of the White
House executive staff. awaiting him
with the document Smithers
brought it from Washington this
mor1ing. The President first sat
on the veranda and read the reso-
luton through. Then he went into
the living room. carefully adjusted
his glasses, and afnxed his sigma
ture. remzrking to those crowded
about him: That's it."
Tomorrow the President win at
tend the Dutch Reformed Church
here He will remain here over
the Fourth. returning to Washing
ton early Tuesday morning.
Peace Is SsTeehnicaf.-
with the signing of the resoiu-
tion, the United States is trans
ferred from a technical state Of
war" to a Technical state o,
peace"
This was the net result of the
enactment Of the resolution, officials
here explained. as they began the
relations between the United States
and Germany on a pre-war basis.
The next step probably will be
the negotiation Of treaty between
the two nations.
According to leading members of
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee, this treaty will be one of
"gmity and commerce." and so in
dependent of the Versailles treaty.
Another view of the Harding ad-
ministration is that the treaty
should be the treaty of Versailles
with all clauses Objectionable to
this government stricken out. Sec
rotary Hughes is reported to be al
ready framing recommendations
along this line.
Awaiting the formal signing and
ratification of a treaty are the ex-
change of ambassadors and consul
lar officers between the United
States and Germany, the final set
tlement of American claims against
Germany. and the disposal of Ger
man property held by this country.
Troops May Remain.
Oficials last night said the reso-
luton does not necessarily call for
withdrawal of American troops
from Germany, pointing out that
the Allies had actually concluded
peace, but still had troops on Ger
man soil. Whether our troops will
he withdrawn in the near future
has not been decided finally, 1t is
understood, and this also may have
to wait on the conclusion of a for
NAL treaty.
The main effect of the resolution
viii be psychological" 1t was said.
In that 1t will get America out of a
situation where she had practically
free intercourse with Germany while
still being technically at war with
her.
The actual signs of the late war
nave already been done away with.
War laws have been repealed.
aliens released and commerce has
gone SO far that steamship COM
panies are advertising sailings OF
Vessels Exchange of consular Of
ficers will facilitate 1t further, how
ever.
Proclamation Possible.
The opinion here was that the
peace resolution. having been passed
and signed, is effective Immediately
without further action. President
Harding, however, is understood to
have had under consideration the
Issuance of a proclamation of peace.
Another possibility is that the reso-
iution may be put under test in the
courts In connection with suits that
may arise.
Movie Queen Denies She
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