The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
SYMPATHY BUT NOT
CASH FOR ARMENIA
Washington Does Not Take
Kindly to Raising Fund of
$2O,OOO,OOO.
GENEVA PLAN Is FLOUTED
Even Red Cross Is Skeptical
About Financing Military
Force in Europe.

Special Despatch to THE New York HERALD
WASHINGTON, Nov. c-.-The sugges-
ton from the Geneva conference that
|s2O,000.00o be raised in the United
states TO finance European military
force which shall be sent to the aid Of
Armenia is not meeting enthusiastic
response in ofricial Washington. The
suggestion that the money be provided
by the Government leaves officials cold,
while the alternative suggestion that it
be raised by private philanthropy, with
special reference to the National Red
Cross, is not meeting with q favorable
reaction.
In Congress. administrative and pri-
vate circles, there is the sincerest SYM
pathy with the Armenisns, but the sug-
gestion made by Lord Robert Cecil that
Europe would furnish the soldiers if
America would furnish the money Is not
regarded as practicable.
State Department officials were disin-
clined to comment on the situation at
all. but the intimation was clear that
the administration felt 1t had done all
it could in recommending to Congress
the acceptance of a mandate for Arme-
MIA.
Settled by Election Verdict.
me suggestion was rejected and II
follows with the election verdict in
mind, there will be no disposition to
change that decision. The fact that
the proposed military expedition to
rescue Armenia would be under the
control and direction of the League of
Nations, and that any Government par
tlclpating either with men or money
would have to report to the league, Is
regarded as rendering American par
ucipation in such plan unthinkable.
1t Is also believed that the plan to re-
lieve the Armenians by use of American
money privately contributed will have
to show more practical characteristics
than the one offered by Lord Robert
and other sponsors for 1t.
There is considerable curiosity 10 know
where the proposed troops are coming
from. The suggestion that the remnants
Of Wrangel's army are to be used does
not offer much hope to those who would
be glad to contribute TO Armenian relief
Wrangel Is now reported on the island
OF Lemnos, at the mouth of the Darda-
nelles, which Is understood to be large
enough to accommodate only a few
thousand men. The remnant" OF
the Wrangel forces is regarded as large
ly figure of speech.
Neither Is theye great deal of con-
rldence expressed In the suggestion that
the expedition could be financed for
$50, 100000. The lowest estimate hith-
erto~fnade has been s100.000.0 900. while
the Harbord report suggested a much
larger sum IL the United States under
took the Armenian mandate.
ScepticaI About the Cost.
While Red Cross officials were unwiIl-
ing to anticipate a proposal that has
yet been officially made TO them.
they are sceptical about these figures
There Is a prevailing belief in both
official and unofficial circles that 500
000,000 represents merely an initial in
yestment which might grow to much
larger proportions before the venture
was completed.
In spite of scepticism concerning the
plan suggested there is widespread in
terest in the Armenian situation and a
growing feeling that the European
Powers should undertake on their own
account to handle this distinctly Euro
pean problem.
The fact that Armenia is not rich In
material resources, IL is believed. should
not deter European countries from ac-
cepting responsibility for protection Of
the Armenian people as part OF the prin-
ciple of mandates which the allied ma
tons Of Europe have accepted.