New-York tribune., 1920-04-01
Allies Sure to
Reject Wilson's
Turkish Policy
Reply of Supreme Council.
1t Is Said, Will Oppose
Expulsion of the Sui
tan From Constantinople
Against Armenian State
Should US. Agree, However,
to Undertake Military Au-
tlsority, Change Is Possible
By Ralph Courtney

PARIS, March 31.-After examination
of President Wilson's note on Turkey
by the French government, it is said
IN well-lnformed circles in Paris that
the only possible answer which the
Supreme Council car 1--WE Mr.. Wilson
Is a pollte retusa. to accept his views.
Before replies are sent the San Reno
conference will discuss the Turkish
treaty again and will agree upon a
reasonable answer to all of Mr.. Will
sons contentious. French official cir
cles characterize the note as a lengthy
communication which cor tains no sur
prlses. On the one hand, the President
goes into reasons which lead American
Puollc opinion to support the policy
OF eXpelling the Turk from Europe.
On the other hand. Mr. Wilson urocs
as expected, the creation of an Ar
menian state with as wide boundaries
as possible.
1t is probable the Allied reply, as
conJectured here to-day, will consist of
rebuttal of the Presidents conten
tlons under these heads--hrst, the Al
lies Will point out that the three coun
tries most closely concerned and unon
which the military consequences of anv
decision would rest are united in the
belief that the Sultan should not he
sent TO ASIA Minor; second, even ex
puislonlsts among the Allies place
serious credence in TIRE dangerous ef-
fervcscence of the Nvss. Imam feeling
which the dethroning G. the Sultan
rom Cons stantinorie would cause:
thlrd, the retention by the Turkish
government of Constantinoplc under
s1lt'cd control promises better results
IN safeguarding particularly the lives
OF the Armenans than the expulsion
pollcy, which might lead to the estab-
nshnent OF an uncontrolled hostile
iufklsh government beyond the Taurus
Mountains.
Dispute Rights of Armenians
1t will be pointed out that this re-
PLY to American contentious is made
upon the assumption that America
body of troops to Turkey if this were
required Should America, however.
agree to undertake military responsi-
CllIties to back her demands it might
be possible to consider a different
solution of the Turkish problem.
Under The head of Armenia the
Allies will express their sympathy
WIN the giving to Armenia of a state
with boundaries in proportion to her
population. But, the reply will point
out, the Armenians, from a strict
equity point of view, have less r;rht
in the disputed territory than the
Indigenous Turkish peasants. The
Armenians are essentially national
m'ddlemen. who while being extremely
lntei iligent. do not constitute the pro
ductIVe portion of the population
Statistics also tend to show that the
natural tendencies of the Armenians
lead them to scatter among other
populations
Finally. it will be pointed out that
the Armenians are not so numerous as
TO warrant giving them too extended
territory The Allies express full
appreciation of the necessity that the
Armenlans have an outlet to the sea
but they suggest that an arrangement
be made under which Batoum would
become a free port, or some similar
provision be made.
Hinges on United States Attitude
Again the Allies point out that
America refused the opportunity of as
suming responsibility toward the
Armenian population, and that the
whole question might be reconsidered
# America would change her mind.
Between now and the time the an
swer to President Wilson is sent the
league of nations will have time to
further examine the conditions under
which the league might accept man
dates in the Near East. However. it is
already seen that if the league of ma
tions undertakes the mandate of
Armenia, for instance, she must have
not only large funds at her disposal
but also large armed forces. Such a
possibility raises tremendous issues
for the league itself. Nevertheless, it
is expected here that some kind of
Turkish treaty will he sufficiently
ready by the end of April or the be-
ginning Of May to invite the Turkish
delegation to Paris.
The members of the league declare.
however. that Mr.. Wilson's desire to
set up q large Armenian state will not
be considered.