Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-25
WILSON INSISTS
THAT We TAKE OVER
ARMENIA MANDATE
Message Making Proposal to Con-
gress Received in Silence by
Legislators.
GENERAL. VIEW SEEMS
UNFAVORABLE TO PLAN

Washington, May 25-President VIII
son sent a special message to Congress
yesterday, urging that it grant to the
Executive power to accept for the United
Statesa mandate over Armenia. Con-
gress was Mt the same time informed by
the President that he considered 1t his
duty to accept the task of arhitratlng
the difficult question of the boundaries
between Turkey and Armenia.
The Presidents course follows the ac-
tlon of the Senate earlier this month IN
passing a resolution expressing the hope
that the Armenian people would attain
full realization of their natlonallstIc as
pirations, and requesting the President
to send warship with marines to the
Georgian port OF Batum tor the pro-
lection of American hives and property
lt was almost at the same time that the
President received the invitation, framed
hv tho allied prcmiers in the San Reno
conference, definitely appealing to the
American government to accpct man
date for Armenia, and inviting the
President. regardless of the mandate IN
vitation. to determine the Armenian
boundaries by arbitration. Announce
mcnt was made on Saturday that the
President had accepted the invitation to
arbitrate.
No action was taken in either branch
Of Congress Yesterday on the President 5
message. beyond referring the communl-
cation to the respective committees on
foreign relations and foreign affairs.
Careful canvass of the Congressional
situation indicates that Congress will
not grant the authority sought by the
President for the exercise of a mandate.
livery Indication Is that Congress Is
not at thi. time disposed to undertake
the cost and responsibilities of the under
taking involved IN the critical choice the
President has asked Congress to make.
II il not believed that the President
las any real hope or expectation that
Congress will favor an Armenian man
date. but this has not deferred HIM
from his determination to do his Ut most
10 try TO persuade Congress that this
country should undertake the response
hility of cndeaoTrlng IN definite and
practical fashion TO aid the Armenlans 10
work out their own salvation.
Senators for the most part received
the Presidents message IN silence.
few Republicans commented on it. all
uf them adversely, but even IN that party
fhc disposition was TO wait until the
message had been carefully read before
discussing 1t.
Democratic Senators would not be
quoted on the question. Privately some
of them expressed their opposition to
acceptance of a mandate by the United
States They said the country docs not
desire it, and will be even less in favor
oi il when it realizes what the undertaking
would cost.
senator Underwood, the Democratic
leader said he had not had time 10 read
the message, land, even If he had, would,
probably have no comment.
Senator Lodge, Republican leader,
said that the foreign relations committee
naturally would take up the message,
hut did not fix any date for its considera-
ton.
The United States won't assume a
mandate for Armenia" said Senator
Toindcxter, of Washington. The peo-
ple OF this country are against it. Con-
cress will not commit the country To
such colossal undertaking without sub
nitting it to the country"
Senator Borah of Idaho said:
Il do not care to discuss at this time
the question of a mandate of Armenia
on its merits. ! only desire to say that,
before America even considers the ques-
1ion of a mandate at all, England and
France should restore to Armenia the
territory and resources without which to
take Armenia would be like taking a
poorhouse. ] think it Is perfectly uncOn-
scionable to strip Armenia as It has been
stripped, and then turn il over TO be
looked after by another nation Ar
menia would always be founding under
present conditions"