Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-01-02
FRANCE WOULD
GUIDE DESTINY
IN ASIA MINOR
Foreign Minister Declares the
French PrOteCtorate Over
Armenia, Syria and Lebanon
Is Fixed by Treaty.
10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wrHEI

10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WIREl
Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 81 (by The AS
ISOLATED Press France plans to as
sumo the guidance of the destinies Of
Armenia, Syria and Lebanon in the
new order of world affairs growing
out of the war in conformity with
treaties signed with Great Britain ana
Russia in 1915, if the coming peace
conference does not rule otherwise, ac-
cOrding to authoritative information
furnished the Associated Press.
Palestine, according TO the plan UNI
der consideration, would with its COM
pleXity of nationalities and religions,
be placed under international protec-
ton. England would be responsible
for the Arabian peninsula, with the
exception of the kingdom of Hedias,
which would be free.
France, it is emphatically stated.
eschews the term protectorate," in
connection with her proposed super
vision of these countries. and it is
problb BILE that some such relations with
them as exists between England and
ne" dominOns would be established
under the plan.
Friendly Toward Turks.
These facts We're given as an eX-
PLANTATION of a declaration of stephen
Pichon, foreign minister in the cham
Der of deputies on Sunday. Referring
to the manner in which France would
deal with Asia minor and nationalities
formerly ruled by Turkey, NJ. Pichon
said: ., a.
I'VE have nothing but friendly feel
ing for the Turks"
"Our rights are incontestable in
Armenia, Syria, Lebanon and Pales-
tine They are based on historic con-
ventions and on more recent contracts.
While admitting the entire liberty of
the peace conference to deal with the
subject, we consider our rights are
fully established by our agreements
with Great Britain.
when the world war broke out the
problem of the future of Asia Minor
arose, the assumption naturally being
that the allies would win. 1t was
agreed at that time that France was
entitled to guide the affairs of Syria
Lebanon and Armenia. England, ION
the other hand, was to assume respon-
sibility for other territories in Asia
Minor, which have not been defined
publicly up to this time.
Treaty Signed i'm 1918.
tween England and France embodying
these ideas. The phraseology of this
treaty was kept clear of such terms as
'protectorate,' colonization and zone
of Influence" it is stated. The COM
pact as far as France is concerned,
merely recognized the right of the gov
eminent OF to develop and promote
civilization in the regions mentioned.
Later another treaty was signed
along similar lines by England
France and Russia. Just what part
Russia intended to play may never be
known because the collapse of that
empire ended her aspirations.
THE boundaries for the propose
activities of France appear to have
been left without absolute definition.
1t was agreed that Syria and Armenia
which are inhabited by various ma =
tionalfties and include both Mos,lems
and Christians, were not in a position
to he given ruling power. They must
have guidance in the establishment of
Ma new state or states.
In Arabian territory the situation
was different owing to the greater
unification of the people and here the
question of what action should he
taken hy the protective power is not
defined. Palestine furnished n prob
lem in itself"
The correspondent called attention
to the fact that Armenia is being urged
quietly by certain quarters to apply
for the establishment of a French
protectotrate over her. The reply was
that if Armenia wanted a protecto.ate
she should have it, but that thus far
France has had no intention of dong
more than acting as a guiding influ-
ence in Asia Minor. An independent
and integral Armenia under the COL
lective protection of the allied powers
is Armenia's hope from the peace con-
greSS however.