The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-25
WILSON REQUESTS
 POWER ID ACCEPT. ARMENIAN MANDATE
Tells Congress He Is Urg- ;ag Very Critical Choice But Believes It Is Will
 of People of U. s.
By Associated Press

By Associated Press
 Washington, May 4.-Authority to ac- cept for the United States mandate over Armenia was asked of Congress today by President Wilson. The executive said he was conscious that he was urging "a very critical choice,' but that he did SC lin the earnest belief that it will be the wish of the people of the United States that this should be done.''
 The Presidents message was read in both the House and Senate, but was dis cussed in neither. Each referred it to it's committee on foreign relations, and there was no indication when either con- mittee would take it up. Some repuD- lican leaders in the Senate predicted pri- vately that the message would lie in the Senate committee indefinitely
 Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, the republican leader and chairman of the Senate committee, had no comment to make on the Presidents recommends tions. In the past, however, he has declared emphatically his opposition to a mandate.
 HARDING NOT TO CONSENT
 Senator Harding, republican, Ohio. chairman of the committee which investi- gated Armenian affairs, said he would never consent to taking a mandate over Armenia and added that he did not think the Senate would consent.
 ''The foreign relations committee" he cai6 syua al l1pa inn a inst mandate, democrats as we'll as repub- licans opposing such step."
 Senator Harding is the author of the resolution recently adopted by the Senate congratulating the Armenian people on the recognition of their independence, and asking the President to send warship and American marine to Baku. President Wilson referred to this resolution in his message today, but senators pointed out that this measure was adopted as sub- stitute for one of Senator Williams, democrat Mississippi, proposing that the United States become the mandatory for Armenia.
 TO ARBITRATE BOUNDARY
 The President, in his message informed the Senate he had accepted the invita- tion of the allied supreme council that he undertake ito arbitrate the very diff ficult questions of the boundary between Turkey and Armenia" saying he had thought it his duty Ito accept this diff ficult and delicate task
 Provision for mandates over former subject peoples is made in the treaty of Versailles and it is set forth that such mandates shall beI executed under the League of Nations, but since the United States is no member of the league, ad- ministration officials said that if Con gress decided that the United States should act for Armenia, the treaty provis- ions would be waived in this case.
 The question of mandate over Ar menia was discussed at length in the re- port of the American mission to Armenia, headed by Major General Harbord which recently was presented to the Senate. General Harbord estimated that accept ance of the mandate would necessltate the presence of 5000 American troops there Other estimates, however have placed 1t at less. once the Turkish army had been demobilized in accordance with the terms of the Turkish treaty.
 CITES RESOLUTION
 After citing the Harding resolution expressing the hope that stable gov- ernment, proper protection of individ- ual liberties and the full realization of nationalfstic aspiration may soon be attained by the Armenian people" the Presidents communication continued;
 "I received and read this document with great interest and with genuine qualification, not only because 1t em- bodies my own convictions and feeling with regard to Armenia and it's peo- rIe, but also, and more particularly, because it seemed to me the voice of the American people expressing their genuine convictions and deep Christian sympathies and intimating the line of duty which seemed to them to lie clear ly before us"
 The President said he could not but regard it as providential and not as mere casual coincidence" that almost at the same time he received the Sem ate resolution the conference of stats men at San Reno had resolved "to ad- dress a definite appeal to this govern ment to accept mandate for Ar menia."
 WISH OF PEOPLE
 .Tn response to the invitation of the council at San Reno, I urgently ad- v:se and request that the Congress grant the executive power to accept for the United States a mandate over Ar menia. 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. T know from unmistakeable evidences given by responsible representatives of many peoples struggling toward independ.. ence and peaceful life again that the government of the United States is looked to with extraordinary trust and confidence and I believe that it would do nothing less than arrest the hope fai! processes of civilization if we were to refuse the request to become the helpful friends and advisers of such of these people as we may be authorita- lively and formally requested to guide snc assist.
 T am conscious that I am urging upon the Congress very critical choice, but I make the suggestion in the confidence that am speaking in the spit and in accordance with the wishes of the greatest of the Christian peoples.
 Tt is therefore with the most earnest hopefulness and with the feeling that am giving advice from which the Congress will not willingly turn away that I urge the acceptance of the in vitation now formally and solemnly extended to us by the council at San Reno. into whose hands has passed the cifficult task of composing the many complexities and differences of govern ment in the one-time Ottoman empire and the maintenance of order and tol- erable conditions of life in those Dor ti1ns of that empire which 1t is no longer possible in the interest of civili- zation to leave under the government oF fha T,,rlxfsh onfhorifias thann~aIvass,