Arizona republican., 1920-05-26
WILSON REqUEST FOR MANDATE ID. COME UP TODAY
House Committee Will Con- sider It at Once-Think Purpose May Be to Refuse It Immediately - Chair man Porter Against 1t
[Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

WASHINGTON, May 25-The house foreign affairs committee will meet tomorrow to consider President Will sons request that he be given author ity by congress to accept mandate over Armenia
 Announcement tonight by Chairman Porter that the committee had been called to take up the proposal imme- diately and that Secretary Colby would be the first witness. caused widespread comment among members who had be- lieved earlier in the day that the whole mandate question would go over until after the convention recess.
 There was no fntimation as to the reasons for immediate consideration. With the short time remaining be- fore the recess the general impression was that congress would not have an opportunity to pass on the question.
 Think Immediate Refusal Probable
 Some Democrats, outspoken in their opposition to the mandate, said they construed the call for the meeting to mean that the Republicans had de- cided at the last moment to act imme- diately on the presidents request and refuse to grant it. The question was discussed during the day by Republi- cans at a number of informal confer ences and the opinion was expressed by many that in the event that con gress failed to act and than adjourned until December. as some members have urged. the president might call spe- cia1 session for it's special considera- tion It is known that Republican leaders have advised against the pos sibility of special summons and knowing the sentiment of the senate and house one of the leaders declared tonight that the best thing to do is to get the mandate question over with"
 Chairman Porter in statement said he had not had time to confer with all members of the committee but he re- garded the proposition of sending American soldiers to Armenia or any other foreign country for the purpose of settling their political and economic quarrels as utterly absurd"
 Mir. Porter Speaks His Views
 If my views prevail with the com mittee, MT. Porter said, i've shall give the president a mandate to follow that portion of Washington's farewell ad dress admonishing us to keep out oI European entang1ements. or I would gladly give him power forcfbly to in tervene in Mexico and stop the murder and robbery of American citizens which has been going on for over 10 years
 The word mandate is misleading Tn the past the action suggested by the president would have been called forcible intervention, which is equiv alent to war.
 If the president will apply watch ful waiting to Armenia and other for eign countries and forcible intervention to distracted Mexico, our immediate neighbor l could agree with him. bur distance appears to lend entertainment to the presidential view
 Bryan Against Mandate
 William J. Bryan took flat issue to- day with President Wilson on the question of a mandate over Arme nia, declaring in a statement that any mandate is impossible.
 The United States, Mr Bryan sai6 could do more toward making the world safe for democracy, even for democracy in Armenia" by recogniz- ing the Armenian republic and enter ing the league of nations "as the friend of all little countries"