Show Hitchcock Releases es r Presidents President's Comments tS By nj Associated tid P Pre Pees f Washington D. D The Tho C. C Tho text tex of r tho the Presidents President's letter published h by Senator Senator Senator Sena Sena- tor Hitchcock 26 G Janu January r 1 1020 0 ily uy Dear Senator Hitchcock I T 1 I 1 A JL is WU o t great teuny y appreciated n u lJ ci juu our thoughtful kindness in 1 keeping ping me informed in informed in- in formed concerning the tho conferences you and some somo of ot your colleagues gues have ha had with spokesmen of or the Republican party parl concerning the possibility o of ratification of the tf treaty ly of peace and send bend this lIne lino in special appreciative acknowledgment of your our letter lettel of or the I return the clipping you OU were kind enough to enclose To the tho j t u stanco of it Jt I of or course adhere I 1 am bound to Like yourself I am solemnly sworn to oi obey cy and anti maIntaIn maintain main maIn- tain tho the constitution of tho the United States But nut I think the form of or it very cry unfortunate An Any reservation or ear I resolution stilting stating that the tho United I States assumes no obligation under such anti and such s an article unless or except ex except ex- ex I would I am ant sure chill our relationship relationship rela rela- with the nations with which wo we expect to be bo associated in the groat I I of oC maintaining tho the worlds world's peace I Must luHt He Be c That association must in any case my dear senator involve olvo vcr very and reaching far implications of or honor and duty which I am sure Euro we t shall hall never In fact be desirous of or ignoring It I is the more Important not to create create cre cre- ate atc tho the impression that wo we arc are trying to escape obligations allons But nut I realize realise that nc negative atho criticism criticism cism is 15 not all ull that Is la called for In so 90 serious a matter I am happy to be bo 1 able to add therefore that L havo o once more gone over the reservations proposed proposed pro pro- posed by yourself tho the COP copy of which I I return herewith and am glad to say that I can accept them as they standI stand I 1 have never seen the slightest reason reason reason rea rea- son to doubt the good faith of our associates in the war nor ever er had tho the slightest sUg reason to fear that any nation would seek sect to enlarge our obligations obligations under the covenant of ot the league of or nations or seek to commit us its to lines of action which under our constitution only th the Congress of ot the United States can in jn the last analysis I decide l t AU s Privilege I May a I suggest that with ward regard to the po possible sible withdrawal v of oC the tho United States it wo would ld be v lse to give to the I President tho right to act upon a n resolution reso rese- lution lutton of or Congress in the mutter r of with withdrawal In other wOl words s It would seem to b bo b- permissible and advisable le notice lic of of that nay resolution giving n withdrawal should be n J joint than tha a concurrent resolution I dou doubt too the President can be deprived tl of his is veto eto vcr power under the constitution constitution tion even illi it 11 his own consent nL The file Theu u use e o oi oL a n. Joint resolution auld permit the President who is o of course charged by the constitution with the thc conduct of or foreign policy to exercise merely merel a voice in saying whether so important a step as withdrawal from the league of nations should bo be accomplished accorn- accorn pUshed b by a n. majority or by a D. two- two thirds vote ote The Tile constitution HS itself providing that the legislative bod body was to be consulted in treaty making and having havIng having hav hav- ing prescribed a two-thirds two vote In InI such cases caes it seems to me that there I should be no unnecessary departure from the method there thero Indicated I r see C no objection to a frank statement statement state state- I ment mont that tho the United States can accept accept accept ac ac- i a n. mandate mandato with regard to any territory under article XIII part 1 I or any other provision of th tha treaty of oC peace only by tile the direct authority and action of the Congress of or the United States I 1 hope m my dear senator that you will never no hesitate to call upon mo for any assistance that 1 I can render in this or 01 an any other public matter Cordially and sincere sincerely yours ours I WOODROW WILSON |