Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-05-26

date, but the president tells us that this rule has
been waived in this instance in favor of the
United States because the great powers and the
Armenian people are most anxious to have the
United States accept the mandate offered. No
comment is made by the leaders of congress on
the presidents communication which was refer
red without debate to the foreign relations COM
mittee of the house and senate.
However, in spite of the confident prediction
Of the president that public opinion in this coun-
try favors the acceptance of such mandate over
the new state Of Armenia we have grave douots
of that fact. We are inclined to think that the
contrary is true, and that majoriy of the citi-
Zens of the United States would be opposed to
such action on referendum vote, if they were
thoroughly apprised of all that it meant. We
suppose that most of our citizens fully under
stand that if this country accepts such charge
it will do from purely altruistic motives. There
is nothing to be gained in selfish way by ac-
cepting such responsibility Armenia is stripped
bare of wealth. It needs capital, food, and all
kinds of assistance. The power responsible for
its welfare must advance much cash to set the
country on its feet financially. But that is not
the worst factor in the case of Armenia. Its bor-
ders are in dispute and while the settlement OF
these questions of frontier have by agreement
been left to President Wilson as arbitrator, the
parties to the dispute have no record in the past
that leads us to believe that they will accept the
award of any arbitrator without fighing if the
award does not suit them. For hundreds OF
years the wild and warlike Kurds who inhabit
the mountain districts around Armenia have
been in the habit of conducting raids into that
plains country carrying off the cattle, goods and
women of the Armenian villages. 1t has been
estimated that in order to preserve peace and
security of life and property in Armenia we
would have to keep at least $4,000 American
troops there. The Armenians are Christians and
all the surrounding nations are Mohammedans
In case religious war broke out it might re-
quire many times fifty thousand American
troops to defend the Armenians. Once we &C.
cepted that responsibility the honor of the ma
tion would compel US to see it through. One car
hardly count the possible consequences of such
a trust and its honorable fulfillment.
Before we spent our resources in gigantic eff
fort to save ourselves and the world from con
quest by German imperialism and arrogance The
United States might have been more easily per
suaded to assume vast responsibilities, both fl
nancial and political, to serve altruistic ideals
but the tremendous demands made on our altru
ism by the late war, and the heavy burdens w,
are now carrying because of these ideals ha!
somewhat strained our atruism. 1t is feeling
little tired and weak We doubt the popularity O.
bearing the burden of carrying Armenia on ou1
back for an indefinite period at an indefinite
cost, but one sure to be huge.
However, the president has put the matte
up to congress and it is the turn of that body Il
play. Our prediction is that it will do nothing
The present congress has made world recor(
for doing nothing except talking. At any rate
the presidents recommendation is likely to lii
buried in committees until after the presidential
election is over The result Of that election ma,
have good deal to do with its ultimate fate |
we decline to have anything to do with the man
| date for Armenia as now seems most likely i
will add to our unpopularity and evil reputation
abroad as slackers in great crisis in cviliza
| tion Yet we have already incurred that reputa
| ton by our refusal to incur the responsible,
| that nearly every other civilized nation in tn
world has accepted in becoming a member Of tn
League of Nations, and attempting to substitute
arbitration for force in disputes between ma
| tions. Our reputation abroad is now so low il
| this respect that refusal to accept any respon
| sibilitv for the future of Armenia can not hur
much more.