New-York tribune., 1920-11-30
Committee, Headed by
Lord Cecil, Unanimous
in Recommending Post
Be Offered to American
Administrator and
Physician Needed
Also Wish i. S. To BE Me-
diator, Make Loan, COM
mand Volunteer Army
By Ralph Courtney

From The Tribunc's EnroperH Bureau
Copyriahr. 1920. New York Tribune Inc.
GENEVA, Nov 29.-The Tribune
correspondent is authorized to an
nouncc that the command Of the Ar
menian expeditiorary force proposed
by General Sir Frederick Morris, OF
Great Britain, to the special committee
of the League Of Nations. probably will
he offered TO Major General leonard
Wood.
1t is the unanimous agreement o. the
six members OF the committee, Of
which Lord Robert Cecil is chairman,
and which Will select the command
ing general, that General Wood il the
most likely candidate.
This committee was charged BIZ the
league Assembly with finding means to
cave Armenia. Lord Robert applied to
responsible British quarters tor the
hest available man to advise on Ar
nienian affairs and General Morris
was designated for this purpose. He,
with General Weygand. was asked to
report. His Recommendation, placed
before the committee on Saturday.
provides, among other things, for an
Armenian force directed by officers
and commissioned officers Of the
Allied armies who saw service in the
great war.
Supported by General Morris
The proposal to make General Wood
leader Of the Armenian force is sup.
ported by General Morris. who is
designated as the committees military
adviser
Under the plans as outlined to the
committee General Wood would be
made High Commissioners for Armenia
and would occupy position similar to
that Of Sir Reginald Tower in Dauzig
The league would instruct General
Wood on the general Armenian policy
and otherwise leave him TO act with a
free hand. He would De asked to make
Armenia strong enough TO defend her
self. but to restrain her from becoming
TOO aggressive in her turn.
The Tribune corresp spondont under
stands that the chief arguments ad-
vanced in the committee in General
Woods favor were that he is an ex-
ce lIcnt Officer and that he is one OF
thc few men Of the necessary expori-
ence required FOR sucn post who is
q physician. One of the most difficult
questions OF the Armenian problem il
that OF health and sanitation, and it is
felt that General Woods ability and
ing this question. In the present sit
uaton thousands of refugees have
been driven together in districts with
inadequate housing and sanitation
General Wood solved such a. problem
IN Cuba and demonstrated his ability
for organization. His high qualities
also were shown during the World
War
Respected by Armenians
II is SAID that General Wood also
would command the respect of the Ar.
mcnians nini the volun.cer officers
serving under him
All that is needed by the Cecil com.
mittee is sufficient money to begin thf
organization Of the tr'~o"jan for"N
Ii a guaranty Of s20,o0o,0 600 is forth.
coiNll.S tll' f-rptittNiciIN o. Nchc' a
Wood as high commissioner. II ne
should decide to accept it. may only
be a question Of days. In case Of his
acceptance he would be asked TO as
sumo his duties Immediately.
1t is understood that General Morris
in his report to the Cecil committee
d.0 not agree to the proposal submit
ted by the Armenians, Who asked tha
the Allies should land an expedition
airy force at Erzerun and advance from
there into the interior. They desired
to hold Erzerum as an outlet to III;
sea. under the same conditions as th'
Poles hold corridor to DanZig.
Discussing the matter with the Trib
unc correspondent, General Morris
sad:
There are many reasons Why TIL,
plan would be impracticable. On th'
one hand, it would be very expensive
and, on the other, it would surely lea(
Continued next pasc)