The Washington herald., 1920-12-01
ACCEPTS
MEDIATION OFFER
FOR ARMENIANS
Notifies League Of Nations
OF Desire to See End Of
Tragedy and VIII Name
Personal Representative;
Mandate Not Concerned.

President Wilson has accepted an
Invitation rendered by the coun-
ell Of the league of-nations to act
as mediator in settling the hostiIi-
ties between the Armenians and the
Turkish Nationalist forces under
Remal Pasha, IL was announced yes
terday by SECRETARY Of State Colby.
The actual work OF mediating IN
the dispute, il was stated, will be
performed by someone who viii be
delegated for the task by the Pres
ident Among possibilities for this
delicate mission mention is made
OF Henry Morgenthau. United states
Ambassador to Turkey, who is con-
sidered most likely for the appoint
ment. Gen. Tasker Bliss, Of the
United States Military commission
at the Peace Conferences: Norman
II. Davis. Undersecretary OF State.
and Gen. John S. HarbOrd. who
made for the President an inves-
tigation of the Armenian situation
az the time the mandate for that
country was suggested 20 the United
States.
Does Not Mean Mandate.
Acceptance OF the offer 20 mediate.
, is distinct from the previous offer
Of the league that the President
should take over the Armenian man
date. The President points out that
he could not accept the mandate
without the consent Of the Senate
The principal parties with whom
the President must deal TO carry
out his duties as mediator are the
F.! Turkish armies and the Armenian
4 government IL is not explained
how the Soviet military interest in
Armenia is TO be met The Soviet
: armies entered Armenia from the
northeast several months ago ana
/ are still on Armenian territory. This
question possibly will be met by the
/ council of the League OF Nations
President Mckinley ~ the OUT
break OF the Boer war rendered his
good Offices to Great Britain. The
| tender was politely declined. On
the other hand. the Austrian Am
bAsador and four other ambassa-
dors called on President Mckinley
a. the White House and offered their
ofhees 10 stop the war with spain.
4 10 ,n<c6Pt- the proner-
] rs-sed on Besnaarfex-
It appears 20 government officials
; here that the acceptance by the
/ President is peculiarly fortunate be-
I cause he had undertaken to fix the
I boundaries of Armenia and has now
! before him a map of Armenia as
/ nc would wish il to be. That de-
/, termination Of the boundaries
would. o. is thought. enter very
: largely in any final settlement be-
tween the Turkish army and the
| Armenians.
President wilson's letter accept
J ing the Invitation Of the League
is as follows:
M. Paul Hymans.
President Of the Council of the
League OF Nations, Geneva.
Switzerland.
Il have the honor TO acknowledge
: the receipt OF your cabled message,
setting forth the resolution adopt
! ed by the assembly of the league
1 OF nations. requesting the council
of the league to arrive at an under
standing with the governments with
a view 10 entrusting a power with
| the task Of taking necessary meas
ures to stop the hostilities in Ar
menia.
You offer to the United States
the opportunity Of undertaking the
humanitarian task Of using it's good
Offices to end the present tragedy
being enacted in Armenia, and you
assure me that your proposal in
wolves no repetition OF the invita-
tion to accept a mandate for Ar
menia.
while the invitation TO accept a
mandate for Armenia has been re-
| jectcd by the Senate of the United
| States. this country has repeatedly
| declared its solicitude for the fate
and welfare OF the Armenian people
| in a manner and to an extent that
justifies you in saying that the fate
I OF Armenia has always been of spe-
| cial interest to the American people.
Il am without authorization to
| offer or employ the military forces
| OF the United States in any project
| for the relief of Armenia. and any
material contributions would re-
4 quire the authorization OF the Con-
lEress which is not now IN session and
whose action could not forecast.
l am willing. however. upon assur-
ances Of the moral and diplomatic
support of the principal powers, ana
\ In a spirit OF sympathetic response
I to ,he request of the council Of the
league Of nations. to use my good
| offices and to proffer my personal
mediation through a representative
whom I may designate. TO end the
hostilities now being waEed against
\ the Armenian people and to bring
peace and accord TO the contending
parties. relying upon the council OF
/ the league OF nations 60 suggest to
me the avenues through which my
proffer should be conveyed and the
parties to whom Il should be ad-
| dressed.
WOODROW WILSON"