The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-05-25
|BRYANOPPOSES
ANY MANDATE
Takes Flat Issue With Presi.
dent Wilson Over Ques-
ton of Armenia.
SEES MANY OBJECTIONS

Washington. May 25.--William j.
Bryan took fiat issue today with Presi.
dent Wilson on the question OF ar
American mandate over Armenia, de.
claring in a statement that "any man.
! date is impossible" ts
The United States Mr.. Bryan said
could do more toward making the world
safe for democracy. "even for democ.
racy IN. fArmenia." by recognizing the
Armenian republic and entering the
league of nations "as the friend OF all
little countries" -
pr,ay Any mandate is impossible" Mr..
and within an hour after his arrival
mere today. declared himself as EN-
phatically opposed to an American man.
date over any country in general, Ar
menia In particular
caustlc Statement.
In statement caustic In Spots and
perhaps a trine ironic in others the
Commoner took direct issue with Pres
ident Wilson, thus still further empha-
Sizing the chasm which has steadily
been growing between the two great
leaders OF the democratic party for
years.
The one proposed for Armenia" said
Mr.. Bryan, IF accelted, would involV(
us In an enormous expenditure In II.
time when war taxation is still so grifA.
Gus a burden that congress has. dis
Guilty In finding the money necessary,
TO do justice TO the men who served In
the worl war.
1T would involve US in the politics
OF Europe and would compel us to deal
with implacable race hatreds.
1T woulc involve us in the fierce
commercial rivalry Of the big nations,
but. worst of all, II would compel us
TO surrender vital principle OF sdemoc-
racy namely that all people are capa..
bic Die OF self-Eovsrnnisnt sr lent Nearly 100
American view on this subject in deal
ing with aspirations of South American
republics. Referring to the old conten-
tion OF moaarchists that subject peo-
pies were incapable Of self government,
Clay declared II to be a reflection on
the Almighty to assume that He would
create peoples incapable Of self govern
ment and leave them to be the victims
OF kings and emperors.
Would BE Injurious.
"Al the colonial exploitation OF
helpless peoples, is defended on the
theory OF their incapacity for self
government. We cannot indorse this
theory. II would be injurious to the
Armenians instead of a Kindness TO
affirm or admit them incapable Of self
government II It were once admitted
they would never be permitted to out
grow the presumption OF incapacity be-
cause consent to their Independence
would encourage other subject peoples
to ask for independence.
Christianity does not require us to
abandon our ideas of government or to
adopt monarchial forms in rendering
aid to suffering peoples; American ideas
are entirely consistent with Christian
ity. We can recognize the independence
OF the Armenian republic and send as
minister TO Armenia a man who has
faith in democracy and who believes
that governments should rest upon con-
sent Of the governed. We can advise
with Armenian officials when they de-
sire advice and help them as friend.
We can be OF much more service to
them in ulflSwaY than we can by sexer-
cfsifg authority over them. Then, IN
we will ratify the treaty and enter the
league. of nations as the. friend OF NIL
the little countries and insist on uni
versal disadmament .wc. may be able TO
make the world safe for democracy
even for democracy In Armenia, /" .e,0