The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-02
PLANS ID ASSUME GUIDANCE
 ARMENIAN DESHN|ES
Under Proposed Plan Pales- tine Would Be Placed Under International
 Protection
By Associated Pres.

ny AbHoSlatcu TVsb
 Paris. Tuesday, Dec. 31.-Francc
 plans to assume the guidance Of
 the destinies of Armenia, Syrin and
 Lebanon in the new order of world
 affnirs. growing out of the world
 war, fin conformity with treaties
 signed with Great Britain and
 Russia in 1915, If the coming peace
 conference does not rule otherwise,
 according to authoritative infOr-
 nation furnished the Associated
 Press.
 Palestine, according to the plan uh der consideration would with it's com plexity of nationalities and religions, be placed under International protec. tion. England would be responsible for the Arabian Peninsula, with the exception of the Kingdom of Hedias, which would be free
 France. 1t is emphaticaliy stated, es- chews the term "protectorate" in con- nection with her proposed supervision of these countries. and 1t Is proba ble that some such relations with them as exists between England and her dom.n- ions would be established under the plan.
 These facts were given as an expla- nation of a declaration of Stephen Pie hon, foreign minister in the chamber of deputies on Sunday. Referring to the manner in which France will be dealt with Asia Minor and notionali- ties formerly ruled by Turkey, MT. ;Pi. chon said
 HAVE FRIENDLY FEELING
 we have nothing but friendly feel ings for the Turks and we have testi- fled to them by protecting the subju- gated nations in the Ottoman empire over which we have century old rights Our rights are incontestible in Arme- mia. Syria. Lebanon and Palestine. They are based on historic conventions and on more recent contracts. While ad hitting the entire liberty of the peace conference to deal with the subject we consider our rights are fully es- tablished with our agreements with Great Britain"
 to ''historic conventions may be un- derstood when taken as relating to long standing treaties of equalization between France and the Ottoman eni- pire, through which France protected the interests of Christians in the coun- tries in question.
 The statement at "to Great Britain" is not so clear. An explanation of this. as given by authority on the subject, was in substance as follows:
 From the beginning of the ascendancv of Mohammedan power in Asia Minor until the outbreak of the present war, France through treaties with Turkey, had assumed the special protection of Chris tian interests under Ottoman rule. As evidence of the good will of France in this matter it is cited that about the middle of the last century she sent an armed expedition into Lebanon to en- force demands made on behalf of the Christians in that country
 Moreover, in, Syria since the tenth century the general language and cus- toms have been French, while in Syria, Lebanon and Armenia the religious orders of France have maintained large Chris tian establishments ASIA MINOR PROBLEM
 When the world-war broke out the problem of the future of Asia Minor arose the assumption naturally being that the allies would win. It was agreed at that time that France was entitled to guide the affairs of Syria, Lebanon. and Armenia. England, on the other hand. was to assume responsibility for other territories in Asia Minor which havs not been defined publicly up to this time.
 Tn 1915 treaty was signed between England and France embodying these ideas The public phraseology of this treaty was kept clear of such terms as 'protectorate. colonization and zone of Influence, 1t is stated. The compact as far as France is concerned. merely rec ognized the right of the government to develop and promote civilization in the regions mentioned.
 ANOTHER TREATY SIGNED 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 lher aspirations. It is stated. however that she originally showed an inclination to annex a part of Armenia.
 The boundaries for the proposed ac- uvities of France appear to have been left without absolute definition. It was agreed that Syria and Armenia which are inhabited by various nationalities and include both Moslems and Christians were not in a position to be given rui7