Evening star., 1920-05-25
MR.. BRYAN FLATLY
CPPOSESPRES|DENT
ON MANDATE ISSUE
Declares the Acceptance by
U. S. of Armenian Trust
Is impossible"

William J. Bryan took fat issue TO-
day with President Wilson on the cues
ton OF an American mandate over Ar
menia, declaring in a statement that
"any mandate is impossible.
The United States. Mr. Bryan said,
could do more toward making the world
safe for democracy. "even for democracy
in Armenia" by recognizing the Arme-
nian republic and entering the league OF
nations 'as the friend of all little coun-
tries
ANY mandate is impossible Mr..
Bryan's statement said without other
preface.
What Mandate Would Cost.
The one proposed for Armenia if ac-
cepted would involve US I'm an enormous
expenditure in time when war taxa
ton is still so grievous a burden that
Congress has difficulty in finding the
money necessary to do justice to the
men who served in the world war.
1t would involve us in the politics
OF Europe. and would compel US to
deal with impiacable race hatreds
commercial rivalry Of the big nations.
But. worst of all 1t would compel
US to surrender a vital principle OF
emocracy-namely. that all people
are capable of self-government."
Nearly one hundred years ago"
continued Mr.. Bryan, Henry Clay set
forth the American view on this sub
tecf In dealing with aspirations of
south American republics. Referring
to the old contention of mona rchists
that subject peoples were incapable
of self-government, Clay declared il
to be a reflection on the Almighty to
assume that He would create peoples
incapable Of self-government and
leave them to be the victims of kings
and emperors.
Talks OF Exploitation.
All the colonial exploitation of
helpless peoples is defended on the
theory of their incapacity for self
government. We cannot indorse this
theory. 1t would be injurious to tie
Armenians, instead of a kindness. to
affirm or admit them incapable of
self-government. II it were once ad-
mitted. they would never be permitted
to outgrow the presumption of inca
pacity. because consent to their inde-
pendence would encourage other sub
I3ect peoples to ask for Independence
Christianity does not require US to
ABANDON our ideas Of government or
ing aid to suffering peoples. American
Christianity
We can recognise the Independence
OF the Armenian republic and send as
minister to Armenia a man who has
faith in democracy and who believes
that governments should rest upon con-
sent of the goveened- He can aklvise
with Armenian Ddlcialo when they. de-
sire advice and 4se3p Gsem as q fftGnd
We can be OF much more service to
them in this way than we can BY ex-
ercisfng authority over them. Then.
II we will ratffy the treaty and enter
the league of nations az the friend Of
all the little countries and insist on
universal disarmament, we may be
able to make the world safe for democ-
racy-even for democracy in Ar
menia."
Confederation Probably DELAYED.
President Wilson's message to Com
gress asking authority to accent q
mandate over Armenia probably will
not be considered by the House for
eign affairs committee until after the
convention recess.
No meeting OF the committee has
been called, and republican and demo-
cratic members said today that 'it
would take its place on the table for
consideration eventually"
There is considerable democratic
opposition to the proposal, according
to democratic leaders. who declared
that no attempt would be made to
obtain hasty consideration.