Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1920 — AMERICA AND ARMENIA [ARTICLE]

AMERICA AND ARMENIA

President Wilson has accepted the invitation of the council of the league of nations to act as mediator in Armenia. The president informs the league council that he is without authority to use the military forces of the United States “in any project for the relief of Armenia,” and that “any material contribution would require the authorization of congress, which is not in session and whose action” he could “not forecast,” acceptance is as follows: I am willing, however, upon assurances of the moral and diplomatic support of the principal powers, and in a spirit of sympathetic response to the request of the council of the league of nations to use my good offices and to proffer my personal mediation through a representative whom I may designate to end the hostilities that ate how being waged against the Armenian people and to bring peace and accord to the contending parties, relying upon the council of the league of nations to suggest to me the avenues through which my proffer should be conveyed and the parties to whom it should be addressed. This government is peculiarly fitted for this task, and it is the only one of the great powers that is. Nowhere in the world is there any- distrust of .its purposes, or doubt of its disinterestedness. It is the only one of the great powers that has not been at war with Turkey, and therefore the Turks would feel that they were dealing with a friend. It is, therefore, entirely fitting that America should, through the president, under-

take this very important work of mediation. Also there is good chance for success. The Turkish leader, perhaps in response to this proposal of mediation, is beginning to show a more reasonable spirit, for he has already offered peace terms which include an independent republic of Armenia. Whether those terms are the best that can be had, or are satisfactory, is yet to be shown. If we can clear up the Mexican situation, as now seems likely, and save Armenia, as is hoped, the world will take a great step forward. —Indianapolis News.