The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-04-04
General Harbord's Report Makes
No Recommendation in It's
Resume Armenian Status
BOTH SIDES WEIGHED
Greeks and Turks Are Surprised
and Chagrined at Wilson'S
Note on Constantinople

Washington, April President
Wilson transmitted to the senate to-
day the report of the American com
mission, headed by Major General
Harbond, which investigated condi-
tiAps in Armenia. The report had
twice been asked for by the senate,
first last November and then under
resolution adopted several weeks ago.
The commission made no recon-
mendations as to the United States
assuming mandate over Turkey and
Armenia, but its report contained ex-
tensive arguments for and against
such action.
No mandate should be taken, the
commission said, without formal
agreement with France and Great
Britain and also definite approval
OF Germany and Russia. The inhabi-
.tants, the mission stated, desire Amer
lea to take the mandate first, with
Great Brita in their second choice.
The principal arguments advanced
in favor of the United States accept
ing a mandate were that the influence
of the United States would tend to
avert wars; that the inhabitants
wanted American protection and that
this would give the United States an
opportunity to do a great humanta-
tion work. Reasons advanced against
a mandate were that it would weaken
our position relative to the Monroe
doctrine;" that 'huma nitarian be-
gins at home" and that the first years S
cost would be s275, ,0OO, 900 including
$ss,5oo,o00 for the army and navy.
Better millions for mandate than
. billions for war said the recommended
! tioEs favoring a mandate.
IF America accepts a mandate for
the region visited by this mission said
General Harbord, "it will undoubtedly
do so from a strong sense of inter-
national duty and at the unanimous
desire so expressed at least, of its col
leagues in the league of nations.
Constantinople April l. - President
Wilson's note to the allies intimating
that the Turks must get out of Europe,
came as a shock to all Turkish parties.
Several brief dispatches asserting Mr..
Wilson adhered to that position had
been printed here under Paris and
London date lines but until part of
the actual text of the note appeared
in local newspapers Turks were un-
willing to believe it. Mr.. Wilson's note
appeared in slightly censored form
which made the position of the United
States seem harsher on the Turks than
it appeared in the full text of the
communication.
The note was equally displeasing to
the Greeks. who were much offended
at the American presidents apparent
unwillingness to grant their claims TO
a large district about Smyrna and his
insistence that Adrianople be given
to the Bulgarians. Italians and French
have both emphasized in the local
press their friendliness in working for
the maintenance of the Turks in Con-
stantinople
American business men here are ap-
prehensive over the effect of the presi-
dents stand and there is considerable
uneasiness as to the effect il will have
in Asiatic Turkey where 500 Amer
ican- born teachers and relief workers
are considered to be in considerable
bdanger if the protection of Turkish
forces should be withdrawn.