South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-25
PRESIDENT In MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS ASKS FOR
POWER TO TAKE ACTION
Wilson Message
To Congress on
armenian Issue
RE Associated Press

referring TO the senate resolution
the president in his message said:
L received and read this docu
ment with great interest and with
genuine qualification, not only be
cause II embodies my own cOnvic-
tions and feelings with regard 10
Armenia and its people but also
and more particularly because i'll
seemed TO me the voice OF the Amer
lean people expressing their genu-
inc convictions and deep Christian
sympathies and intimanng the line
of duty which seemed TO them 10 lie
clearly before us.
Conference Send Appeal.
81 cannot but regard IL as pro-
vidential and not as A mere casual
coincidence. that almost a the same
time I received information that the
conference Of statesmen now sitting
at San Reno for the purpose Of
working out the details Of peace
with the central powers which il
was not feasible TO work out In the
conference at Paris. had formally
resolved TO address a definite appeal
to this government TO accept man
uate for Armenia. They were al
pains TO add that they did this
mot from the smallest desire to
evade any obligations which they
might be expected TO undertake. but
because the responsibilities which
they are already obliged 10 bear in
connection with the disposition OF
| the former Ottoman empire VILE
strain their capacities 10 the utter
most and because they believe that
| the appearance on the scene OF
power emancipated from the pre-
I possessions of the Old world VIII
/ inspire a wider confidence and az
/ ford a firmer guarantee for sta
| bHity in the future than would the
! selection OF any European power
Sacred Trust.
EARLY in the conferences at Paris
| il was agreed that to those colonies
and territories which as a conse-
duence Of the late war, have ceased
to be under the sovereignty Of the
states which formerly governed them
and which are inhabited by people
not vet able 10 stand by themselves
under the strenuous conditions or
the modern world there should be
applied the principles that the we'll
being and development OF such peo-
pie form a sacred trust Of civiliza-
ton. and that securities for the per-
| formance Of this trust should be
afforded.
ct was recognized that certain
communities formerly belonging 20
! the Turkish empire have reached
| stage Of development where their
! existence as independent nations can
! be professionally recognized. subject
to the rendering OF administrative
advice and assistance by a manda-
tory until such time as they are
( able TO stand alone.
Ask L. {. to Assume Duties.
1T is in pursuance OF this prin-
ciple and with a desire Of afording
! Armenia such advice and assistance
! that the statesmen comforting at san
! Reno have formally requested this
/ government 10 assume the duties OF
mandatory In Armenia. / may add
/ for the information OF the congress.
Z that at the same sitting I resolved
! to request the president Of the Unit
/ ed States 70 undertake TO arbitrate
/ the difficult question Of the bound
/ arv between Turkey and Armenia
/ and the Vilayets Of Erzerum, Tre-
| bizond. Van and Bitlis. and II was
| agreed 10 accept this decision there
| upon, as well as any stipulation he
/ may prescribe as 70 access TO the
sea for the Independent state Of Ar
/ menia.
1
| resolved 10 embOdy in the eEN
with Turkey. now under final con
sideration. q provision that Turkey
/ and Armenia. and the other high
/ contracting parties agree 70 refe:
/ to the arbitration OF the president
1 Of the United States OF America, the
! question Of the boundary between
! Turkey and Armenia in the Vilayts
! Of Erzerum. Trebizond. Van and Bit
| lis and 20 accept his decision there
! upon as well as any stipulations he
may prescribe as 70 access 20 the
sea for the independent state Of Ar
menia. pending that decision the
= boundaries of Turkey and Armenia
20 remain as at present I have
! thought il my duty 10 accept this
! difficult and delicate task.
Seeks Authority
In response 10 the invitation Of
/ the council at San Reno ] urgent
! ~ advise and request that the con-
/ gress grant the executive power 70
! accept for the United States II man
date over Armenia make this
! suggestion I'm the earnest belief that
! il will be the wish OF the people
of the United States that this should
/ be done sympathy with Armenia
has proceeded from no single por-
| tion OF our people. but has come
with Extraordinary spontaneitv and
| sincerity from the whole OF the great
| body OF Christian men and women in
this country by whose free viii Of
ferings Armenia has practically been
saved al the most critical juDcture
| Of its existence.
In their hearts this great and
/ generous people have made the
| cause Of Armenia their own It is
TO this people and 20 their govern
ment that the hopes and earnest
/ expectations OF the struggling peo-
I pie Of Armenia turn as they now