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Show Both Houses Hear Recommendations Recommen-dations on United States Taking Mandate. t SENATORS EXPRESS THEIR OPPOSITION Wilson Claims It Duty to "Accept "Ac-cept Difficult and Delicate Deli-cate Task." WASHINGTON, May 21. Authority to accept for the United States a mandatory man-datory over Armenia-was asked of congress con-gress today by President Wilson. The executive said ho was conscious he was "urging a very critical choice," but ; that he did so "In the earnest belief ,lt. will bo the wish of tho people of the I United States that this should be Idoiic." ' The president's message was read in I both houses, but was discussed in net- Ither. Each referred it to the commit 1 tee on foreign relations. Somo senate Republicans predicted that the message would lie In tho senate sen-ate comniitten indefinitely. Chairman Lodge of the senate committee, com-mittee, had no comment to make. In tho past, however, he has declared emphatically em-phatically his opposition to a mandate. Senator Harding, Republican, chairman chair-man of tho committee, which investigated investi-gated Armenian affairs, said he wouli never consent to take a mandate over (Armenia and added he did not think the senate would consent. Duty to Accept Task. Senator Harding Is the author of the resolution adopted by the senate congratulating con-gratulating the Armenians on the rec-' jognition of their independence and (asking the president to send a wardship war-dship and American marines to Baku. !The president referred to this resolu- tion in his message, but senators point-icd point-icd out this measure was adopted as a substitute for one by Senator Williams, j Democrat, Mississippi, proposing that : the United States become the mandatory manda-tory for Armenia. i The president informed the senate that he had accepted the Invitation of ; the allied supreme council that he un-, un-, clort.ilfp In rirhitroffi the nuefltinnH nf the boundary between Turkey and Ar- mcnia, saying he had thought it his i duty "to accept this difficult and dell-1 cate task." Provision for mandates is made in ! the peace treaty and it is set forth that such mandates shall bo executed under un-der the league of nations but since the United Suites Is not a member, administration admin-istration officials said if congress decided de-cided that the United States should , act for Armenia, the treaty provisions would be waived in thi3 case. i Tho question of a mandate over Ar- j meuia was diecussed in the report of the American mission to Armenia, headed by Major General Harbord, recently re-cently presented to the senate. The general estimated that acceptance of ; the mandate would necessitate the ' presence of 60,000 American troops I there. Other estimates, however, have placed it at less, once the Turkish army had been demobilized. Report of Commission. 1 After referring to the senate resolution resolu-tion the president said: "I received and read this document with great interest and with genuine satisfaction, not only because it embodied em-bodied my own convictions and feelings feel-ings with regard to Armenia and its people, but also, and moro particularly, particular-ly, because it seemed to me the voice of the American people 'expressing their genuine convictions and deep Christian sympathies, and intimating tho line of duty which seemed to them to lie clearly before us. "I cannot but regard it as providential, providen-tial, and not as a mere casual coincidence coinci-dence that almost at the same time I received information that the conference confer-ence of statesmen now sitting at San Rerao for the purpose oZ -working out tho details of peace with the central powers which it was not feasible to work out in the conference at Paris, had formally resolved to address :i accept a mandate for Armenia. They were at pains to add they did this not from tho smallest desire to evade , any obligations which they might be expected to undertake, but because of tho responsibilities which they are al- j ready obliged to bear In connection I with the disposition of the former Ot-, toman empire will strain their capaci-1 ties to the uttermost and because they ! believe that the appearance on the scene of a power emancipated from the I pre-possessions of tho old world will' inspire a -wider confidence and afford ' a firmer guarantee for stability in tho future than would the selection of any European power.' "Early in the conference at Paris it was agreed that to those colonies and territories which as a consequence of the lato war have ceased to be under the sovereignty -of the Btates which for-i for-i merly governed them and which are Inhabited by peoples not yot able to stand by themselves under the strenuous strenu-ous conditions of the modern world, there should be applied the principle that the well-being and development of such peoples form a sacred trust of civilization and that securities for the performance of this trust should be afforded. af-forded. Mandatory Needed. "It was recognized that certain com-. com-. munities formerly belonging to the 'Turkish empire have reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nations can ho provisionally provis-ionally recognized, subject to the rcn-j rcn-j dering of administrative advice and assistance as-sistance by a mandatory until such I time aa they are able to stand alone, j" "It is In pursuance of this principle and -with a desire of affording Armenia such advice and assistance that the statesmen conferring at San Remo havo formally requested this govern. I ment to assume the duties of mandatory manda-tory in Armenia. At the oame sitting it was resolved 'o request the president presi-dent of the United States to undertake to arbitrate the difficult question of the boundary between Turkey and Armenia Ar-menia and the Vlllayets of Erzerum, I Trebizond, Van and Hltlls, and it was agreed to accept his decision thereupon, thereup-on, as well as any stipulatoin ho may prescribe as to access to the sea for the independent state of Armenia. In pursuanco of this action, it was resolved resolv-ed to embody In the treaty with Turkey Tur-key a provision that Turkey and Armenia Ar-menia and the other high contracting parties agree to-refer to the arbitra-t tlon of tho President of tho United States of America of the question of, the boundary between Turkey and Armenia Ar-menia in the Vilayets of Erzerum, Trc!-bizond, Trc!-bizond, Van and Bitlls, and to accept his decisions theroupon as well as any stipulations he may prescribe as to access ac-cess to tho sea for the independent state of Armenia, pending that decision decis-ion the boundaries of Turkey and Armenia Ar-menia to remain as at present. 1 have ; thought it my duty to accept this difficult dif-ficult and delicate task. Invitation of Council. "In response to the invitation of tho council at San Remo, I urgently advise and request that the congress grant jthe executive power to accept for the United States a mandate over Armenia, Armen-ia, I make this suggestion in the earnest belief that it will bo the wish of the people of the United States that jthls should b6 done. The sympathy with Armenia has proceeded from no J single portion of "our people, but has I come with extraordinary spontaneity land sincerity from the whole of the great body of Christian men and women wom-en in this country by whoso free will offerings Armenia has practically beeu saved at the most critical juncture of Its existence. This great and generous gener-ous people have made the cause of Armenia their own. It is to this people peo-ple and to their government that the , hope and earnest expectations of tho struggling people of Armenia turn as Ithey emerge from a period of indescribable inde-scribable suffering and peril, and I 'hnnn ihat liift ennirreSs will think it o wise to meet the hope and expectation with the utmost liberality. I know from unmistakable evidence given by responsible representatives of many peoples struggling towards independence independ-ence and peaceful life again that the government of the United States is looked to with extraordinary trust and confidence, and 1 believe it would do nothing loss than arrest tho hopeful processes of civilization if we were to refuse the quest to become tho helpful friends and ndvisers of such of these peoples as wo may be authoritatively and formally requested to guide and assist. Urges Action. ' "I am conscious that I am urging upon tho congress a very critical : choice, but I make the suggestion in , the confidence that 1 am speaking in , tho spirit and in accordance with tho , wishes of the greatest of the Christian J peoples. The sympat.. for Armenia (among our people has sprung from un-! un-! tainted conscience, pure Christian i faith, and an earnest desire to seo Christian people succored in their time lot Buffering, and lifted from their ab-jject ab-jject subjection and distress and enabled en-abled to stand upon their feet and take their place among the free nations of the world. Our recognition of the in-independence in-independence of Armenia will mean genuine Hbdrty and assured happiness , for her people if we fearlessly undertake under-take the duties of guidance and assistance assist-ance involved in the functions of a I mandatory. It is, therefore, with the I most earnest hopefulness and with tho ! feeling that I am giving advice from which the congress will not willingly ' turn away that I urge the acceptance 'of the invitation now formally and 'solemnly extended ub by tho council at San Fvemo intp whose hands has passed the task of composing the many complexities and difficulties of government govern-ment in the one time Ottoman empire and the maintenance of order and tol-i tol-i erable conditions of life in those portions por-tions of that empire which It Js no longer possible in the Interest of civil-, civil-, izatlon to leave under the government of the Turkish authorities thcmsolves. ' |