The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-06-11
NO ARMENIAN MANDATE

Jonathan Bourne, Jr., Coudy gave ouV
the following statement from It's
Washington headquarters:
"When Germany surrendered to u
allies she parted with colonial DOS
sessions OF immense natural wealth,
rich in mineral, precious stones, ivory,
rubber, timber and tropical products
that require only intelligent develop
ment to make them available. The
United States took a prominent part
In the defeat of Germany, compelling
her to abandon those colonies: in fact
according to the final report OF Gen.
Pershing, the allies were in such a
desperate state wheD America entered
the conflict that their defeat seemed
imminent. But in spite Of the vital
part we had played in forcing an
allied victory, and the huge cost II
had entailed upon the American
people, there was no thought in the
mind Of our self appointed represent
alive at the peace settlement that the
United States should receive any of
the German colonies as reparation.
At one time Mr.. Wilson thought the
island of zap would be our lot but
even that possibility seems to have
vanished. AS a matter Of fact the
| entire colonial possessions Of the Ger
man Empire have been divided be-
tween England, France and Japan,
who are proceeding to exploit them to
the limit, and will eventually take
untold riches from their new
acquisitions.
Now comes the peace settlement
with Turkey, involving the future
disposition of Armenia The United
States was never at var with Turkey,
and there is no logical reason why we
should accept a mandate over a part
Of her territory even though it should
be very much to our interest to do so.
But the fact is that of all the terri
tory surrendered by the Central Pow
ers as a result of the allied victory,
Armenia Is the least to be desired. 1t
Is not difficult to see why tie German
possessions we're coveted, nor to ex-
plain the effort nov being made to
foist the responsibility for Armenia
onto the United States.
THE German colonies taken by
England and France in Africa fitted
in very nicely with English and
French possessions already on that
continent. Likewise the Pacific
Islands south of the Equator 60 to
England merely as an extension OF
English Oceania %centering about Aus.
tralia and New Zealand. Those to
the north of the Equator are wei,
coined by Japan as a part of her eX,
pansion plans in the Pacific. Armenia
on the other hand, is widely separat
ed from territory already controlled
by either England or France.
""The African colonies are sparsely
peop!ed by primitive native tribes
who consume only a minute Fraction
Of the natural resources of til,
country, permitting the sale and ex
portation by the mandatory of the
balance. In Armenia the resources
are so limited that what can be pro
duced is Immediately needed for tht
support OF the inhabitants, supple
mented by imports of foodstuffs anC
clothing from abroad.
'In Africa the new colonies are
practically surrounded by peoples
friendly to the English and French
governments, and a military fore,
will be required there only to main
tain domestic order. Armenia, OF
the other hand, is surrounded b,
inveterate enemies, the Turks on tn,
south and west and the Bolsheviks OF
the north, both Of which elements
are at this moment engaged In wa
against the Armenians The %countr!
accepting a madate for Armenia will
be forced to maintain not only do
nestle order, but to keep a fore,
estimated by some at 10000 men tt
repel foreign invasions.
1.-THE moral obligation to take Over
Armenia is far greater on tht
countries of Europe than upon the
United States, both from the fac,
that they are the one who made wa
upon Turkey and from their nearness
to the scene of action. The United
States has done and is willing to dc
its share in world regeneration, but
must decline to accept merely those
duties which other nations have ex-
amined and rejected as Improbable
to themselves"