The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-04-04
General Harbord, Investigator of the
Conditions In Near East, Makes No
Recommendations Relative to Turkish
Problem; Gives Reasons Why and Why
Not America Should Accept Mandate

Washington, A.rl 3.-Whne The
American mission under Major G.ner-
al Harbord, whlch investigated con.
ditions in the Near East last year.
did not recommend that the United
States accept n mandate over the
former Ottoman empire, General
Harbord In his report said some pow
er should accept a mandate as the
only solution OF the Turkish prob.
lem.
Constantinople. he said should be
included in the mandatory territory.
but he dlsapproycd several mandator.
les for different portions Of Turkey.
The much discussed report of the
mission was transmitted to the sen.
ate today by President Wilson In
response to a second resolution Of re.
quest adopted several weeks ago.
after the senate had failed TO hear
from the White House concerning It's
first resolutions adopted in November
While estimates OF the number or
| troops required for n mandate vary
from $4,000 to 200 ,000, General Har
bord declared that in his Judgment
50 900 would be needed for the first
year The cost of the mandate was
estimated at $4,000. 600 for the first
year including sSS,5OO.OOO for the
army and navy, and at s75G,OOO,Ooc for
the first five years.
Thirteen arguments in favor OF the
United States accepting a mandatory
and l3 against acceptance we're con
tanned in the report
Tie principal arguments in favor
were that the United States as "ono
Of the chief contributors In the for
matj>l Of the league of nations, was
morally bound to accept" that its
mand,Sory would insure peace at the
worlds crossways; that the building
Of railroads would offer cpport mt
les for American rIritl and shat
there would be great trade advantages.
that intervention would definitely
stop further massacres OF Armenlans
and other Christians and give JUS
tlce to the Turks, Serbs, Greeks and
other peoples and that unless the
United States assumes responsibility
in this region, international jea!ousies
probably would result in the continu-
ance, "of the unspeakablc misrule oc
the Turks"
The principal arguments against
an American mandate were that the
United States had prior and nearer
Obligations; that there was every like
ihood that ambitious nations would
continue to maneuver to control this
region; that u mandate would weaken
the American position relative 10 the
Monroe Doctrine that the United
states would be brought into tre
politics OF the world contrary to its
! trad ->1al policy; that 1t would be pu,
TO great expense involving probably
an increase Of the army and navy;
| that intervention would rob II of its
strategic advantage given by the
/ Atlantic Ocean; that its line of COM
munication to Constantinople wuold I've
at the mercy Of the other naval pow
| ers, especially Great Britain and that
| peace and justice would he assured
| under any other Of the great pow
i ers.
| General Harbord's report was dated
| October Q. 1919, and consists of doz'
on typewriter volumes, with separ-
ate findings by a large staff of ex-
pert assistants, some Of whom aided
/ the American peace commission at
! Paris