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Show THE CITIZEN 4 Europe. True, there is a question of protecting a Christian people from persecution by the barbaric Ottomans, but the duty of protection rests first upon those nations which have permanently settled in Asia, not upon the American nation which belongs, so to say, to another world and never can have any interest in maintaining aM settlement in Asia. We well may ask why any mandate should be necessary in the case of Armenia ? Why are not the Armenians allowed to govern themselves? The only excuse for a mandate must be based on the theory either that the Armenians cannot govern themselves or that they cannot stand alone? The nations desiring to place the Armenian people in tutelage contend that the Armenians arc incapable of setting up a nation without help and guidance and that if such a nation were set up the Turks would destroy it. Neither argument appears to be sound. If the Armenians need financial help or more territory the nations that affect to be their friends can provide the necessary money and territory. And if the new Armenian nation is threatened by the Turks these good friends can restrain the barbarians while the Armenians work out their own destiny. The American people would be willing to lend financial aid and come. might be willing to send an army to defend a free republic, but little enthusiasm can be aroused in this country for the expenditure THE ARMENIAN FOLLY of blood and treasure to make a subject people out of the Armenians. It is notable that the Armenian mandate, which is offered to It is not charity, it is not benevolence and it is not justice to free the the United States in conformity with the theory of the present league Armenians from the slavery of the Turks and fasten a new servitude of nations, calls for a military force of 60,000 men and a yearly upon them, even though it be servitude to the United States. If the powers are sincere let them grant the Armenians the expenditure of $88,000,000, according to the estimate of General Harbord. The real character of the league as an association to right to establish a republic and let them guarantee the territorial enforce peace by military and naval power is thus revealed. The integrity and political independence of that country. If that policy were adopted it might be necessary for the United States to furnish first demand on us is for 60,000 men and an annual outlay of $88,000,-00And our men must be sent half the world away along a line some money, but it is improbable that we would be compelled to of communication that might easily be broken at a dozen points in provide an army in a region where British, French, Italian and Greek armies are close at hand. case of war. The Armenian republic has already been established and has There is a disagreement as to the number of men needed and it is quite abvious that the number would vary with circumstances. been recognized by our government. Just what kind of a republic The American people would not forgive any administration which it is few of us are aware. It is reported that the people have formed a soviet republic, which is not a free republic at all. Russias exsent an inadequate force and subjected it to the peril of annihilation in case of a general upheaval in Asia. If we accept the mandate perience proves that a soviet form of organization implies comwe must keep .in Armenia an army capable of coping with any situapulsory labor under a governmental autocracy. But granting that it is or will be a free republic it surrenders tion that may arise. Already the Bolsheviki are threatening to its soverignty when it invites another nation to finance and police it. invade Armenia from the Caucasus and from Persia. province. Logically those nations which have interests in Asia Minor It becomes a province and by no means a So long as we have the Mexican problem at our doors, ever should look after Armenia. Great Britain, France. Italy and Greece who have planted themselves on the soil and who expect to benefit requiring us to maintain a big army, the American people will not by their occupation, should guard Armenia, protecting her people from look with kindness on the proposal to station 50,000 or, mayhap, a 100,000 American troops in an isolated country of Asia. the Turks and from invaders. For years President Wilson was content to watchfully wait Senator Borah tells us that the allies have stripped Armenia of its most valuable possessions and that if we take charge of the while Americans were robbed and murdered in Mexico, but now he would send an army into a far-o- ff Asiatic country to assist in country we will be taking charge of a poorhouse. At our Fixing the boundaries of Armenia will not compensate Armenia what he calls one of the helpful processes of civilization. for the loss of regions rich in oil and minerals. If a powerful Armenia very door we have a people who seem as barbaric, almost, as the is to be erected an adequate outlet to the sea should be provided Turks and as little able to maintain law and order. They, too, arc and certain mineralized regions in the possession of Great Britain engaged in massacres and banditry. Surely if it would be a helpful process of civilization to intervene in Armenia it would be helpful Armenia, as at present tentatively constituted, is isogiven her. lated. Her trade will be limited by the will of her neighbors. Any to ourselves as well as to civilization to intervene in Mexico. military force which occupies the country will be in the worst strategic position imaginable. ENTERING A NEW PHASE Once again President Wilson pleads in the name of humanity and the plea would have force were it not for the fact that the Its a gay life while it lasts meaning the life we are leading in nations which have occupied Asiatic Turkey have shown too much America today. Everybody selling, comparatively few producing. of a disposition to serve themselves rather than humanity. The Workmen getting $8 to $15 a day in au automobile factory laugh at Armenia mandate would be more desirable if the United States were the honest agriculturist who advertises for farm help, offering $5 a given country which had a chance to become and a day and board. Nor are they interested in the mine owners offer, Armenia could be made practically if given enough nor in the offer of the owner of the forests who must provide the adjacent territory to provide for her commercial stability and her country with timber. The automobile manufacturer must have wood strategic security. and iron for his cars and his workmen must have food, but the We are not asked to take part in a crusade. The power of the farms, the mines and the forests arc producing far below capacity Turk has been destroyed and there is no question pf an invasion of because workmen cannot be obtained. The ideal league of nations cannot possibly come into being for many years. Good will is not enough, although it is he motst important element in producing a satisfactory league. The human intellect builds slowly and it must have, not a few weeks or months, but years, in which to .evolve an international solidarity. Our present disagreements simply mark the failure of the first attempt. No doubt we shall try again and again. And meantime the spirit of brotherhood grows stronger and more beautiful. The ideal conquers in spite of human selfishness and bickering. Somewhere Schiller has said that truth is death, but he was thinking only of the prejudice he encountered in his attempts to tell what he conceived to be the truth. Truth kills and kills, but some day it gives life. It may not be in your day or mine that the ideal we cherish becomes fruithful and gives life to a great institution, but truth leaps over the corpses of millions slain on the battlefields and survives to give permanent form to those ideals for which men have slied one anothers blood. In rejecting, therefore, the covenant of the league of nations, we must remember that the spiritual unity of the races is closer than it was before the great war was fought and that there exists a league of hearts that is the herald of the league of nations to 0. self-governi- ng self-sustaini- ng self-sustaini- ng |