Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-25
PRESIDENT URGES
CONGRESS ACCEPT
MANDATE OFFER
Declares Service to Ar
menia Demanded as
Christian Duty.
LODGE CITES HARBORD'S
WORD OF ENORMOUS COST
Points to Estimate of $780,
100000 to Maintain Order
for Five Years.
HARDING PREDICTS FAILURE
Declares Senate Will Never Agree
to Give Arbitrary
Power.
HARDING PREDICTS FAILuRl
Declares Senate Will Never Agree
to Give Arbitrary
Power.

WASHINGTON, May 24.-Presidcnt
wilson today sent a message to Con-
gress asking authority to accept, on
behalf of the United States. the man
date over Armenia which was ten
dered by the allied Premicrs in their
conference at San Reno.
The President asked for the man
date on the grounds o. duty to the
Armenian people to assist them I'm
their struggles toward independence.
He declared his belief that his ac-
tion would be supported by the great
mass Of tho American people.
Acknowledging that his request
was laid before Congress "at n very
critical time" the President asserted
that he made the suggestion In the
confidence that he was speaking In
the spirit and in accordance with the
wishes OF the greatest OF the Chris-
tian peoples"
He appealed to Congress not TO
turn away" from tho invitation so
formally and soiemnly extended to
us by the council at San Reno" but.
on tho other hand, to permit him TO
take over the mandate for ,the pro-
lection of tho Armcnians against the
Turks
Notifies Congress OF Acceptance.
In tho same message the prcsl-
dent notified Congress that he had
decided to accept the Invitation ten
dcrcd him by tho allied Prcmiers to
act as arbitrator in fixing the boun-
diary between Turkey and Armenia.
This oiiice tho President may accept
without authorization OF Congress-.
"a -
the Senate. declined TO make any
comment. but pointed to tho state
ment in General Harborrs report TO
tho effect that the cost TO tho United
states for the, first i've years would
exceed s75G.0O0.o00.
Senator Harding (Republicanl, OF
Ohio. chairman OF the committee
which Investigated Armenian affairs.
said he would never consent to TAX
Ing n mandate over Armenia. and
added that he did not think the SEN
ate would consent.
THE Foreign Relations Commit
tee" he said. was almost unanimous
against mandate, Democrats as we'll
az Republicans opposing such a STEP
The President in his message in
formed the Senate he had accepted
the inNlkuIlOn OF the aIlleu SupTc me
council that he undertake ito arbi-
trate the very difficult questions Of
the boundary between Turkey and
Armenia" saying he had thought it
his duty ito accept this difficult and
delicate task
Waive Treaty Proyisions.
Provision for mandates over form
or subject peoples is made In the
treaty OF Versailles and IL is set forth
that such mandates shall be executed
under the league of nations, but since
the United States is not a member OF
the league. administration officials
said that il Congress decided that
the United states should act for Ar
menia the treaty provisions would be
waived in this case.
The question of a mandate over
Armenia was discussed at length in
report OF the American mission TO
Armenia. headed by Major-General
Harbord, which recently was pre-
scented TO the Senate. General Har-
bord estimated that acceptance of the
mandate would netessitate the pres
once OF $4,000 American troops there
Other estimates, however. have placed
been demobilized in accordance with
the terms of the Turkish treaty.
After citing the Harding rcsolu-
tion expressing the "hopc that stable
government, proper protection of in
dividual liberties and the full reali-
cation of nationalistic aspiration may
soon be attained by tho Armenian
people" the Presidents communica
tion continues: :
Points Out Christian Duty.
II received and read this document
with great interest and with gem
uine qualification, not only because
it cmbodies my own convictions and
dealings with regard to Armenia and
Its people, but also, and more par
ticularly. because 1t seemed to me
the voicv of the American people ex-
pressing their genuine convictions
and deep Christian sympathies and
intimating the line of duty which
seemed to them to lie clearly before
u.s."
The President said he could not
"but regard it as providential, and
not as mere casual coincidence"
that almost at the same time he re-
ceivcd the Senate resolution the con-
ference OF statesmen at San Reno
had resolved ito address definite
appeal to this government TO accept
a mandate for Armenia"
Urges Congress to Grant Power.
I'm response to tho invitation Of
tho council at San Reno. I urgently
advise and request that tho Congress
grant tho executive power to accept
for tho United States a mandate over
Armenia / make this sugg estion In
the earnest belief that It will DO the