The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-06-04
PRESIDENT ASKS FOR
ARMENIAN MANDATE.
REQUESTS AUTHORITY FOR UNIT.
ED STATES TO ASSUME CON-
troll THAT COUNTRY
NO ACTION BY EITHER HOUSE
Believes II ais Wish of Whole Country
That This Be Done," He Says in
Message to LegisIators.-May
Put Matter off

Washington, May 27.-Democrati
opposition developed yesterday t,
President Wilson's request to congress.
for authority to accept a mandate
over Armenia.
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, adj
ministration leader in the peace treaty
fight, joined Republicans opposing the
| measure, and there were indications
that other Democrats would stand with
| him.
There were many informal confer
| ences by both parties, at which mem
bers expressed strong objection to any
proposal which would send American
troops to Europe or Asia.
Chairman Porter of the foreign af-
fairs committee indicated the presi-
dents message would be considered
briefly and then laid on the table,
which would end it. Inasmuch as the
senate has failed to ratify the treaty
with its league of nations covenant,
Republican members of the house
committee cOntended that to accept
a mandate would be like doing indi-
iCIlis HDdl NoHSl Cos uoo HUI pCilHit-
ted to be done directly. The house
committee is not expected to meet I'M
til tomorrow, but the senate foreign se- |
lations committee will probably take |
up the mandate question today. In |
the senate, as in the house, the gen.
eral desire seemed to be to table it,
there was the suggestion that
the president might call congress in
special session during the summer for
is consideration. The president was
asked in q resolution introduced yes
erday by Representative Mason, Re
of Illinois. for full informa-
ion as to the cost and number of
roops required in connection with his !
mandate proposal. Mr.. Mason insist f;
d that congress SHOULD know before
dding to the burden of the overtaxed
eoples.' s
Washington, May 25.-Authority to
ccept for the United States man. e
atory over Armenia was asked of
ongress yesterday by President VIII !
on. The executive said he was con-
cious that he was "urging a very crit
al choice" but that he did so Sin
lie earnest belief that it will be the
ish of the people of the United 6
tates that this should be DONE" h
The presidents message was read in n
9TH house and senate, but was dis =,
Used in neither. Each house refer nj
d it to its committee on foreign G;
lations and there was no Indication
hen either committee would take it T.
The president in his message in q,
rmed the senate that he had sac m
pied the invitation of the allied SUI
eme council that he undertake to
bitrate the very difficult question ar
the boundary between Turkey and ho
saying he had thought it NJ
) duty ''to accept this difficult and tb
Iicate task" be
Provision for mandates over former lie
Dject peoples is made in the treaty no
versailles and it is set forth that III,
n mandates shall be executed I'M
. the league of nations, but since
league, administration officials
d that il congress decided the
tied States should act for Armenia,
treaty provisions would be waived
this case. 10
he Question Of a mandate over Ar uo'
MIA was discussed in the yepOrt OF
American mission to Armenia, III,
~ rooontIg u,os nroson+od e. tho ing
ate. General HarbOard estimated
compliance with the mandate .ii'
Id necessitate the presence of 5O,- uuN
American troops there. Other es- LIZ LIZ
ates, however, have placed it at ~
once the Turkish army had been -,
obilized in accordance with the D'ii
,c of tho Turkish treaty ooi