The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-19
Peace With Germany
President Harding Issues
Proclamation of Formal
Peace 6

Washington, Nov. 14.-Peace be-
tween the United States and Ger
many was formally proclaimed to-
day by President Harding.
The president in proclamation
signed at 1852 p. m. today declared
the state of war between the United
states and Germany, existing from
April s, 1917, to have terminated
July 2, 1921, when the joint peace
resolution of congress was approt-
ed by the executive.
Issuance Of the proclamation,
which followed an exchange of
ratifcations of the treaty at Ber-
lin erected Armistice day in the
Gsrman capital, was considered the
first Eos a series of three steps
which, when completed, will return
the United States to a complete
peace status.
The second step probably will be
the pronlu1gation Of proclamation
declaring the war with Austria to
be at an end, and the issuance
aaf similar proclamation with re-
spect: to Hungary. Until the third
and final step is taken, the purpose
of the formal proclamation will not
be achieved, in the opinion Of Off
Gals. These purposes are stated
ste be. to put an end without doubt
to- ecertain war laws unaffected by
the congressional resolution Of re-
peal approved last March 8. No
table among these wartime laws
are sections Of the espionage act,
the Liberty bond act and trading
with the enemy act. Portions Of
the last named statute are preserv-
ed, however, through the treaty.
Disposition of the cases of Eu-,
gene 2. Debs and others, convicted
Of violation of war laws, likewise
VIII await the third and final step.
attorney General Daugherty has!
prepared an opinion for the presi-
dent. suggesting a method Of dis
posing of the Debs case and. it is
Understood, proposing definite
Treatment of the case Of others,
convicted of similar offenses. This
opinion, however, has not yet been
presented to the president, and Mr..
DaugherU has indicated there may
be last minute changes before it's
submission.
The proclamation issued today
has no bearing on the resumption
of diplomatic relations between the
United States and Germany, state
department officials asserting that
the exchange of ratifications in it
self restored such diplomatic rela-
tions. Just when Germany will
resume her old diplomatic status in
Washing gton is not known to Off
cials here, but it is expected that
Baron Thermann, former counsell-
or of the German legation at Bu-
dapest, will arrive in Washington
shortly to arrange for a technical
Installation of German embassy.
Press dispatches from Germany
have indicated that the Ebert gov
ernment was having difficulty in
finding suitable appointee to the
enthusiastically in
view of the expense through diff
ference in exchange rates. Il has
been suggested that Germany
might for a time be content with a
charge d'affaires, but such sugges-
tien has not been officially COM
niunicated to the American sta,e
department.
President Harding for some tire
has had under consideration the
names of several possibilities as
ambassadors to Germany and it is
understood that Representative
Alanson Fl. Houghton of New York
is first in the presidents mind in
that connection.