The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-29
THE ARMENIAN RESOLUTIONS.

The action of the two houses of Congress
IN passing a coneurrentresolution express
ing the earnest hope that the powers of
Europe will take decisive measures at once
to check the outrages committed by the
Turks in Armenia will have no other effect
| than that of raising the question how far
the United States would be willing to take
part IN the affairs of Europe and Asia.
1t is clear that if as nation we chose to
exert any direct influence in Europe We
could do so with great force and effect at this
time We could without trouble arrange
Just now almost any kind of alliance we
chose with Great Britain or with Russia,
and perhaps even with both. Recent
speeches of members of the British Cabi-
net and the prevailing tone OF the London
press make it certain that country would
gladly hail an alliance with us on any
terms we should think it worth while to
offer. From Russia, of course, nothing
has been heard, for that is not q land of
free speech, or of much speech of any kind,
but her historic friendship with US is still
unbroken, and there is no reason to doubt
that her statesmen would be as willing as
those of England to welcome us to an
alliance that would give US potent, if not
a dominant, voice in the great councils of
the nations.
The situation in fact is such that if we
chose to assume the responsibility the
United States could at this time stand
forth as the arbiter of the destinies of the
Turkish empire. The powers of Europe,
after all the efforts of their diplomatists,
have been unable to reach an agreement
| upon which they can take action. This
means, OF course, they are so equally dl-
Vlded neither side dares to make move,
and as consequence IL the United Suites
added her strength to that of either side,
1t would be able to go forward with such
an assurance of victory in case of war
there would probably be no danger the
other side would venture upon war.
Against the exercise of the power which
this condition of affairs places IN our hands
there is opposed our traditional policy
founded upon the warning of Washington
to beware of entangling alliances with
foreign countries. That policy we have
kept inviolate up to this time. We were
invited to take part in the Berlin treaty
which arranged Turkish affairs after the
last war between Russia and that country,
but declined 10 do so. Thus we have no
direct responsibility in what is going on
now, and there was logic in the argument
of those members of Congress who opposed
the concurrent resolutions on the ground
that to advise the parties to the Berlin
treaty after we had refused to take part in
1t would be an impertinence.
The logic of events, however, is much
stronger than the logic of the schools.
The concurrent resolution has passed both
houses of Congress, and the President
will lay it before the governments of the
great powers. The United States has at
last made her voice heard in the affairs of
Europe. 1t is not a strong voice at pres
ent. 1t does no more than make a request
1t implies 10 promise of an alliance or even
OF any help to such powers as are willing
to grant the request. 1t will have, there
fore, but little effect in helping Armenia,
but 1t is certain to raise new questions in
the minds OF far-seeing diplomats and lead
them to consider how soon the United
States may be expected to take an active
part in the worlds politics, and how far
she may 60 when she begins to move.