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Show OS AUTHORITY TO ACCEPTAMDATORY PnCiiDETiT SEEKS PERMISSION Of CONGRESS TO TAKE ARMENIAN MANDATE. D.'dnrcs Ho Is "Speaking In the Spirit ar.d In Accord With the Wisdom cf the Greatest Christian Peoples." Washington. President Wilson on Slay 21 sent u message to congress asking authority to accept on behalf i-r Hi.' United Slates the inundate over Armenia which was tendered by the allied premiers in their conference at San Kenio. The president asked for the man-dale man-dale on the ground of duty to the Armenian people, to assist them in their struggles toward independence. He declared his belief that his action would be supported by the great majority ma-jority of t lie American people. Speaks 'Christians' Wish.' Acknowledging that his request was laid before congress "at a very critical time," the president asserted that he made the suggestion in the confidence that he was "speaking in the spirit tind in accordance with the wisdom of the greatest Christian peoples." Jle appealed to congress J'not to turn away from the invitation so formally and .solemnly extended to us by (he council at San liemo," but on the oilier hand to permit him to un-derlake un-derlake (he mandate for the protection protec-tion of the Armenians against the Turks. Jn Hie same message the president notified congress that lie bad decided to accept the invitation tendered him by the allied premiers to act as arbitral arbi-tral or in fixing the boundary between Turkey and Armenia. This office the president may accept without authorization author-ization of congress. Notwithstanding the confidence with which the president expressed his belief that the mandate would be acceptable to the people of the United Stales, bis message met with a chilly reception in both the senate and house. |