Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-06-03
WILSON AND ARMENIA

were in the room. Guess l was talk
ing to myself. / was just reading
about some of the results of Presi
dent Wilson's request to congress to
give him power to accept what is
called a mandate for Armenia. That
is, he wants congress to give him
the right to tell Armenia that the
United States will look after that
country"
Has congress given him the
right" asked Jack.
mot yet, Jack, and l don't be-
lieve they will. To get back to the
beginning, some time ago the allies
asked Mr.. Wilson to decide the ques-
ton of the boundaries between Ar
menia and Turkey. He has ac-
cepted that invitation and by accept
ing ii think he has done something
unwise. In the first place the peo-
pie of the United States did not elect
Woodrow Wilson President so that
he could fix the land lines of Ar
menia or decide how many horses
the Arabs of the desert should own.
There may not be anything in the
constitution to keep the president
from saying where Armenia shall
stop and Turkey begin, but l do
know that it should be made very
plain that in fixing these boundaries
President Wilson is acting as Wood
row Wilson, private citizen, and not
as President of the United States.
"Why do you say that?" asked
Ruth who had been listening intent
ly.
Because Ruth, later on it might
T,st s,,tsN
lot of trouble. 1t is getting back
to the old world club plan again.
Suppose after Mr.. Wilson decides
what these boundaries shall be, Tur-
key or Armenia, either one, decide
that the boundaries are not fair.
Turkey might say, You chopped off
too much of my land" and Armenia
might say, we didn't get enough
land Then what would happen?
If it was understood or even thought
by those countries that the bouD
daries were made by Mr.. Wilson as
president of the United States the
young men of this country might
have to risk their lives in fighting
in the mountains of Armenia about
something which is none of our bust
ness. In other words, If after these
boundaries are fixed by Mr.. Wilson
and there is any fighting to be done
those who asked him to fix the boun-
daries should also ask him to do the
fighting and not expect the young
men of the United States to do it,
Now to get back to the request
Of tine president that congress give
him the power to accept a mandate
for Armenia. When the presidents
message arrived in congress asking
this lower ii was received with
great amount of surprise. Even the
democrats in congress admit that the
senate will never permit the United
States to become the mandatory for
Armenia. America has troubles
enough of her own at this time with
out going to Armenia to look for
more.p
"If congress gave the president
power to accept what you call a
mandate for Armenia, would that
have anything to do with the world
club plan?" asked Jack.
Eyes, Jack, II would. To accept
this mandate would mean that the
United States recognizes the author
ity of the world club plan. This
is because the United States would
have to make a report each year tc
the world club about the mandate,
and it would place the United States
under the direction of the world
club So you see, children, If the
Senate should give this power, 1t
would at the same time accept Am
erica's loyalty to the world club, and
most of the members of the senate,
as you know, are opposed to the plan
of the world club of which l have
told you so much.
There would be- no end to what
this country would have to do under
this mandate. General Harbord who
headed a commission to decide how
many troops would have to be used
under such arrangements, says that
the number would be from $4,000 to
100000. Personally he thinks about
5000 troops would be needed at a
cost to the American people OF $685.
OOO,0O for the first year alone. II
100000 troops were used the cost
for the first year would be about
S1,5OO,OOO after the first five years.
Certainly we should not send Amer
lean troops to Armenia to be killed
for something that does not concern
of the United States, your father,
Johnnie Jones' father and all the
rest of us who pay taxes, have en-
ough to pay now without paying !
more to keep soldiers in Armenia,
simply because Woodrow Wilson
thinks it would be a nice thing to do.
Although | do not think con-
gress will give the president authori- |
ty, | thought you children ought to
know what 1t would mean and just |
what Mr. Wilson is asking.
agree with Senator Mccormick OF
Illinois, who said after the president |
had his message read: They appeal
to us in order that we may supply |
the millions and economic strength
not only to defend our part, but to
guarantee what Great Britain and
France have taken. Congress will
never authorize the sending OF Am
erican troops abroad for the defense |
of Armenia
Woodrow Wilson is still wander |
ing around in the skies and does not
seem to care how we spend our |
money, or where we send our sol
diers, just so long as he can get this
country to forget all the teachings
of the fathers and mix into the az
fairs of every little country, in every !
part of the world. He apparently |
gives little thought to the hundreds !
of important problems which we
have right here in our own coun-
try"