The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-23
INTERVENTION
IN ARMENlAIS
INCONSISTENT
Indiana Congressman Say Re-
quests of Churches Do Not
Harmonic with Disarma-
ment and Tax Reduction.
OFFERS PLAN
PALLADIUM NEWS BUREAU

WASHINGTON, June 23.-For some
time the bulk of the mail received by
Indiana members of congress has con-
sisted of demands for a reduction of
federal taxes and for the adoption of
some plan calling for international
disarmament, and of late these con-
gvessmen have been impressed by the
number of letters they have been re
ceiving urging their support of move
ment calling for American interven-
tion in Armenia.
Reduction in taxes and disarIn-
ament cannot be reconciled with the
proposal for American intervention in
Armenia" remarked an Indiana repre-
sentative today. Such action would
require an increase in the army to
provide troops for service in Armenia,
and the expense of our occupation OF
that country would mean, of course, a
considerable increase in taxation
Surprise has been expressed that
most of the communications urging an
American mandate for Armenia have
come from religious organizations,
which have also been active in de-
manding reduction in the American
military establishments.
PerpIexng Activity.
It has been over a year since the
United States senate rejected the pro-
posal of President Wilson for an
American mandate over Armenia, and
the cause of the belated activity in
Indiana in behalf of such a policy is
perplexing.
Several individuals and church or
ganizations in the sixth Indiana dis
trict, particularly in Wayne and Henry
counties, have urged American inter
vention in Armenia, but not in such
numbers as to indicate that the peti-
TONERS reflect any considerable part
OF public opinion within the district.
The opinion has been expressed that
the pleas for an Armenian mandate
represent reaction to an extensive
propaganda conducted by some MAJ
ional organization which has particu-
lar interest in the eastern republic.
Fear Propaganda.
letter written by representative
of Wayne county church mentioned
the fact that the congregation advo-
cacy of Armenian intervention is
based on information received from
the Near East Relief society, which
has been active for some time in rails
ing funds and supplies in the United
States for the Armenians. The letter
/ referred to reads in part: I'VE are
told that only by intervention of our
own government with those of Eng.
land, France, and Italy may this awful
tragedy (Turkish occupation of Ar
menia) be averted." The letter con-
cludes with the suggestion that the
four powers mentioned permanently
protect and defend the Armenians. "
Would Cost Lives
A communication signed by a com
mittee representing another Wayne
county church urges American inter
vention in Armenia but not at the
price or war, then adds: Cant the
allies make the Turks behave them
selves?''
When President Wilson's proposal
for an Armenian mandate was debated
in the senate in May. 1920, the cues
ton as to whether the Turks could be
made to behave themselves" was dis
cussed, and the opinion was expressed
that such an accomplishment was pos
/ sible. but at the cost of many Ameri
can lives and the expenditure Of &
CONTINUED on Page Five)