The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-02-28
OUR PRoTEcroRATE OVER ARMENIA

Before many weeks have elapsed the question of an
the subject of wide debate The proposal that the United
States shall be mandatory of the league of
tons in behalf of Armenia seems to have been approved
by President Wilson afordng evidence that the United
States is in earnest and will shrk its share of the bur-
den of civilization.
That is a fine sentiment and American will dissent
from the Presidents desire prove that the United States
is not Stacker Perhaps many Americans will be
prised however, to learn that they the risk of being
called sackers by Europe after what America has done
The philosophical Americans will content themselves
with the reflection that gratitude grows by expectancy
and that Thoroughly hated he who becomes
tired of doing favors
Americans not weary of we'll doing. They will give
food to Europe indefinitely if they be assured that
their unsefshness not utilized for purposes to treach
cry by the enemy. The question whether they should be-
responsible for Armenia, however is that may
bid them pause 1t is hedged about with political diff
culties and is radical departure from American ira
dons that they may conclude that their atruism be
exercised effectively in other direction.
The Armenian proposal depends largely upon the league
of nations of course but tits quite apparent that if there
is be any league at ALL will provide for the "tute
lage of backward peoples under manufactures of the
league If President Wilson get this league approved
by the United States he will probably also be strong
enough to obtain approval of the protectoate of Arme
MIA Conversely the prospect of becoming responsible
for Armenia may cause many Americans to oppose the
league
One of the first features of the Armenian proposition
that confronts American the fact that the United
States would be face face with Russia The bolshevk
and American soldiers would be patrong ground that
i'll defined There would be clash. The result of war
between the United States and bolshevk Russia could
not even be guessed, much less foretold.
There are about 100000 Armenians under the rule
of Turkey and about the number lately under Rus
sia The Armenians formerly under Russia have formed
themselves into the Caucasian republic of Ararat Now
the two sets of Armenans represented at Paris by
Nubar Pasha asking for independence under mandate
Of the league of nations 1t is proposed to create single
Armenian state composed of the republic of Arara and
the Armenans of the sv vilayets of Turkey, making
new nation extending from the Caucasus to the Medi
erranean That sounds WELL until it is discovered that
with the Armenans interocked huge population of
Tarars located both in the Caucasus and Anatoa These
rarars are Mosems fanatcay divided into sects and all
enemies of the Armenans. They speak Turkish and
affiliated with $4,000 900 Turkish-speakng Russians
well as with 100000 Osmanli in Anatoa and Syria
The task of maintaining peace between the Armenans
and the Tartars would be sufficient probably to keep the
American mind off of petty domestic matters. In Of
boshevik nroad from greater Russia the work would
really dgnifed proportions At the would be
population of Turks who could be relied upon to remain
true to their natural habit of reachery and perdy Thu
the maintenance of communications by land or wates
would enlarge the opportunity of America to prove it
altruism.
In order to enable the United States to make its atru
manifest without any possibility of proftng there
from the other allied powers have kindly consented tc
take regions which capable of great commercial
development Thus the tendency of individual Amer
cans to worship the almighty dollar would be eectuay
hwarted and the nation would find in Armenia splendid
opportunity to indulge in unduted altrusm, free from
any possible material recompense Every dollar of Amer
can money would go forever Every American soldier
dying in Armenian Businesses perchance shot in the back
by an Armenian would be a sacrifice to pure altrusm,
and it could not be said by any that had died in de-
Tense of the American flag He would fall solely in be-
half of something outside of America. Thus, whatever
other nations may be doing the way of reapng reward
for their efforts in assisting backward peoples the United
States can always clasp its hands, roll its eyes heaven
ward and thank God that is hoer than other nations
Post.