The Washington times., 1920-05-25

said:
I received and read this doeu-'
msnt with great interest and win
genuine sratincs tioA. not only be-
cause Il embodied my own convie-
tions and feelings with regaru 10
Armenia and it's people. but aiso.
and more particularly, pecause IL
seemed TO me the voice OF the Amer
lean people expressing their genuine
convictions and deep Christian sym
pathies and intimating the lino or
duty which seemed to them 10 lie
clearly before US.
/ cannot but regard IL as prosi-
Dental. and not a. a mere IAsuai
coincidence, that almost at the same
time received information taat the
conference OF statesmen now sitting
at San Reno for the purp'ss OF
working out the details OF peAce
with the Central Powers whi,h IL
was not feasible to work out in the
conference at Paris, had formally
resolved to address . dennite sp-
peal TO this Government to accept
mandate for Armenia. They were
at pains to add that they did this'
not from the smallest desire 10
evade any obligations which thcy
might be expected to undertake., out
because the responsibilities when
they are already obliged TO bear In
connection with the disposition ot
former Ottoman Empire Will strain
their capacities to the uttermost,
and because they believe that the
appearance on the scene or power
emancipated from the proposes
sions of the Old World Will inspire
a wider confidence and anord a
firmer guarantee for stability In the
future than would the selection or
any European power.
Explains Mandate System.
Early in the conferences at Paris
II was agreed that to those colonies
and territories which as q conse-
Quence Of the late war have ceased
to be under the sovereignty OF the
states which formerly governed
them and which are Inhabited by
peoples not yet able to stand oy
themselves under the strenuous con-
ditions of the modern world. there
should be applied the principle that
the we'll being and development OF
such peoples form a sacred trust OF
civilization and that securities for
the performance Of this trust should
be afforded.
III
communities formerly belonging to
the Turkish Empire have reached
a stage of development where their
existence as independent nations
can Professionally recognized
subject to the rendering of admin
istrative advice and assistance by
mandatory until such time as they
are able to stand alone.
It is in pursuance of this princi-
pie and with q desire OF affordtnR
Armenia such advice and assist
ance that the statesmen conferring
at San Reno have formally request
ed this Government to assume the
duties Of mandatory in Armenia.
To Arbttrnte boundaries.
Imay add. for the information of
the Congress. that at the same sit
ting it was resolved to request the
President of the United States to
undertake to arbitrate the difficult
question of the boundary between
Turkey and Armenia in the vllayets
OF Er1erum, Trebixond, Van and
Bitlis, and 1t was agreed to accept
his decision thereupon. as well as
any stipulation he may prescribe as
to access to the sea for the inde-
suance of this action, II was re-
solved to embody in the treaty with
Turkey, now under hnal considora-
ton. a provision that Turkey and
Armenia and the other high con-
tracing parties agree to refer to the
arbitration of the President Of the
United States of America the lucs-
tion Of the boundary between Tur-
4. nfo In
Erzerum. Trebizond. Van and Bit
lis, and to accept his decision there
upon as well a sany stipulations he
may prescribe. as to access to the
sea for the independent state Of Ar
menia;" pending that decision the
boundaries of Turkey and Armenia
to remain as at present. have
thought it my duty to accept this
difficult and delicate task.
In response to the invitation or the
council at San Reno, I urgently ad-
wise and request that the Congress
grant the Executive power to ac-
cept for the United States a man
date over Armenia. 1 make this
suggestion in the earnest belief that
it will be the wish of the people OF
the United States that this should
be done.
The sympathy with Armenia has
proceeded from no single portion OF
our people, but has come with ex
traordinary spontaniety and sim
cerity from the whole OF the great
body of Christian men and women
in this country. by whose free-wiIl
offerings Armenia has practically
been saved at the most critical
iupcturo Of ifs eYistence At their
hearts this great and generous peo-
pie have made the cause OF Armenia
their own. 1t is to this people and
to their government that the hopes
and earnest expectations OF the
struggling people Of Armenia turn
as they now emerge from a period
of indescribable suffering and peril,
and I hope that tho Congress Will
4 4hia hama n nd