New-York tribune., 1919-09-04
Force Needed to Carry
Out Mandate To Be
Assumed Over Region
Taken From Turkey
Provides a Clew
To Big Army Bill
Explains Baker Demand:
Big Fight on Proposal
Expected in the Senate
By Carter Field
NeU York Trtbuna
WQshiuOfOn Rnrc~..

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3-The Brit
lsh government has suggested that the
United States send 100000 troops as
quickly as possible to Armenia. The
State Department has received a re
port of this suggestion. from the naval
officer who is the representative of
this country on the international COM
mission which has been meeting at
Constantnople for discussion of Near
Eastern affairs in connection with the
peace treaty and the taking up of the
various mandataries in that part of
the world.
1t was learned further to-day that
the American representative on this
commission had, nearly a month ago
proposed $4,000 as. the number of
American troops to be sent to Ar
menia. This number, however, was
secuted by the British representatives
on the commission as utterly made
quate and the figure set at 100000.
Senators Arc in Dark
Just what action this government
would take on the British request
could not be learned tonight. Neither
the State Department nor any other
branch Of the Administration has made
any announcement that such an i'm
portant matter as the sending Of a
large number of troops to Armenia was
under contemplation. Even Adminis-
tration Senators had not been informed
of it, while the Committee on Military
Affairs, which is considering the size
of the army, and before which army
officers are appearing from day to day.
had no inkling that it was proposed to
send any force whatever to Armenia.
Chairman Wadsworth of the Senate
Military Affairs Committee said TODAY
he had not heard of this proposal to
send a large number of troops to Ar
menia, though from various indications
he thought the people were opposed to
any army as large as that demanded
by Secretary Of War Baker.
Ferhaps this explains why such a
large standing army is needed" he
said, "but I do not believe the Amcri-
can people will approve sending 2OO. 900
men, or for that matter, any army at
all, to police Armenia or any other
country in the Eastern Hemis phere."
Senator'S Show Surprise
Senator'S questioned about the Ar
menian situation were for the most
part, except one or two who have heard
OF the BRITISH sugge stion through per-
sonal friends in the diplomatic service.
surprised at the development They
had understood, they said that no de-
clslon had been reached as to this
country assuming a mandate over any
foreign country, and while President
Wilson has limited at an Armenian
mandates~ they had understood from
him that this was a question to be de-
termincd at some future time.
1t is obvious from few casual con-
versations around the Senate that
there will be tremendous opposition
to the sending of troops to Ar
menla, and quite a little INDICATION
that the American representative on
the international commission should
have ventured to suggest that 10000
troops should be sent. Senators have
no doubt that this officer, in so sug-
gestlng, voiced the ideas of Pre- sidcnt
Wilson, but they declared that there
wiil be struggle rivalling the fight
over the peace treaty before they per-
NIT any legislation to pass providing
for such an expedition to Armenia.
Explains Bakers Demand
Opponents of this country taking a
mandatory abroad declared tonight
they would make fight against an
army of anything like the size asked
by Secretary Baker, whose real pur-
pose, they declare, is now disclosed for
the first time.
Information obtained to-day about
the discussions in this international
commission was conveyed to Washing
ton by mail, it was pointed out, where
as it is declared incredible that the
American representative would not
cable such an important piece of news
to Washington. If correct, this as
sumption, Senators pointed out to-
night, shows that the Administration
has been maintaining silence on this
question for perhaps a month.
two regiments of American soldiers
President admitted to the Foreign Re-
lations Committee that a force of
American soldiers would be kept in oc-
cupied German territory for perhaps
fifteen years.
the situation is not one which they
think will impress the American pco-
pie with the advantages of approving
the league of nations covenant with
out very careful safeguarding of Amer