The Cordova daily times., 1922-10-03
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1922
THE TRAP WE ESCAPED

The present emergency in the Near East ought to cause Americans to reflect what would have been the position of the United States now if the recommendations of former President Wilson that we become member of the League of Nations and accept a mandate over Armenia had been endorsed. The prime purpose of the League covenant IS to pre- serve peace. Economic measures to that end are to be first resorted to, but if they fail mill tary force is to be called upon. 1t IS manifest that economic pressure would have no deterrent effect on the Turks in their campaign against the Greeks, and 1t IS up to members of the League to call on their armies and navies If the Greek and Turk combatants are to be sep arated. But the fact is that neither Great Britain nor France has any considerable num- Der of troops at hand.
 Two years ago Gen. Harbord made thor ough investigation of the whole Armenian situation. He estimated at that time that It would cost the United States $756O 100000 to accept mandate over that country for five years, the cost for the first year being $275,- O00,O00. He recommended a military force of two American divisions, or 5000 men, to maintain order in the country. If the mandate had been accepted according to the Wilson program the United States would be the only Christian nation on the ground with an eff fective force, although even that would be en- tirely inadequate to cope with the Turkish army estimated at 100000.
 Being a member of the League, it would have become the immediate duty of the Unit ed States to threaten Turkey with attack if sle did not cease her campaign against Greece, also a member It would have required no action of the other members of the League to determine that course-the duty of each individual member being cleary y indicated in Article X of the covenant. Armenia is too far removed from the scene of the present fight ing to have made it possible for an American army to join with the Greeks in meeting the Turks, but it would have been feasible for our two divisions to have conducted a counter demonstration against Turkey along the Ar menian frontier, which would have had the prompt effect of calling halt to hostilities in Asia Minor while the Turks met the new menace in the east
 Then the United States would have found itself launched in war against Turkey. And not only Turkey but probably against Russia as well, for it is understood that the soviets are going to assist the Turks in the recap ture of Constantinople It is easy to conjec- ture the further possibilities. Bulgaria is like ly to join with the Turks against the Greeks, and it is the confident prediction of men familiar with Near Eastern affairs that the conflict will resolve itself into religious war, with the Moslem countries of Turkey, Bull @aria, Egypt Palestine, Mesopotamia, and In dia arrayed against the Christian world Where would the United States have been in that situation? The two lone divisions in Ar menia would have been wiped out long before endorsements could have reached them, and we would have been embarked on long and dreary war, probably many times more costly in men and money than the World War.
 These are not fanciful imaginings. They are the present and probably future situations into which the national honor of the United