The sun., 1919-09-01
MANDATE PROBLEM
KEPT IN BACKGROUND
Wilson FaUors Settling OF
League Fight First.
spacial peapatcA 70 Tur suN.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31.-President
Wilson Is understood to favor little or
no discussion OF Americas plans for
taking mandates in Armenia, Mesopo-
tamia, Syria, Palestine or elsewhere
while the treaty and league covenant
are facing such critical times in the
Senate. The Administration programme
first is to get the treaty ratified. II pos
sible. and then begin a determined
effort to win popular favor for the
elaborate plans whereby American
man power and American resources may
continue to be devoted to the welfare
OF humanity in Europe and Asia Minor.
The President practically had pledged
Americas support for whatever pro-
gramme of mandates the nations OF
Europe decide would be most beneficial
to mankind as a whole. The most atten-
ton so far has been given to Armenia
because Great Britain believes that
America can devote it's attention in the
field in purely humanitarian and un-
selfish way. Major-Gen. Harboard, for
merly Gen. Pershing's Chief of STAR, has
been ordered to make thorough in
vestigation Of conditions In this field and
a report will be drawn up later indicat-
ing probably how many American regi-
ments will be required as q permanent
army Of occupation in that part Of what
was recently the Ottoman Empire.
officials hero in response to inquiry
admitted that Gen. Harboard was going
to look over the field in Armenia, but
preferred not to discuss the connection
this might have with the European de-
sire that the United States take a man
date there.
The Administration believes that men,
ton Of the plans for mandates now will
tend to complicate matters and rivet
public attention on the necessity for
continual military service by Americans
in the near East. 1t therefore Is
deemed wise to say little or nothing
about this feature Of the league for the
present
II Is known, however, that consider
able attention Is being given already to
this phase Of Americas future work in
Europe and that matters are progressing
| Just as II the United States Senate had
sanctioned the proposals for maintaining
American participation In European af-
fairs along the lines to be mapped out
by the European Powers.
Various Armenian societies in the United
States have been told that an Ameri-
can mandate over Armenia is practically
certainty. as President Wilson had
definitely agreed to the allied programme
poAOEo ne iclI 4dIl5s Inc 1TeblQent 3
sanction. however. was based on the In
dorsement Of the Senate. but the Presi-
dent is understood to lave assured the
foreign representatives that this was
| merely a matter of form.
In urging the United States to take
| over the Armenian mandate, II Is pointed
out that relatively few American Of
| ficers and men will be needed for per-
manent police duty in this part OF
the world Some of the Armenians
placed the required number as low as
| 500 American officers and a half dozen
regiments of United States troops. This
would form nucleus for Armenian
! troops. the whole force being whipped
into shape for its work in waging war
against the Kurds and the tribes which
continually menace Mount Ararat be-
cause they believe a devil inhabits there,
TO protect Mount Ararat ana other parts
| of Aru5sI1.a from tho vartous tribes
would Require only a few thousand
American troops, according to the Ar
menians, as after q few battles with
tho Americans the Kurds and other
tribes would discontinue their carr
paign against the Christians