Papers written by Curzon on the Near and Middle East [‎30v] (60/348)

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a period we were requested or expected to remain,
Government were prepared to play at its close.
Later in the evening Mr. Bonar Law, speaking on the same subject jin the House
of Commons, used the following words :—
“ I can assure my noble friend that, if any sign of help were comipg from America,
as he suggests, we would only too gladly welcome it. Indeed, I think 1 might say
more, with the consent of my right honourable friend. It is, if I may be permitted
to say so, an American problem rather than a British. They are in a better position
to deal with it. They have interests as great as ours—I think, greater. I can assure
the House that if the President of the United States were officially to say to the
British Government, ‘ We wish you to hold the fort for a little until we can make
arrangements,’ we would certainly do our best to meet him.”
Mr. Bonar Law meant to add, what I may here be permitted to add on behalf of
His Majesty’s Government, that, in the event of the American Government addressing
us in the sense indicated, it would seem only reasonable that the financial burden of
retaining our forces in the Caucasus beyond the period already fixed by us should not
be borne by Great Britain, but should be assumed by the State which expects to be,
or is likely to become, the mandatory for the Armenian people. Our own financial
responsibilities in those regions have already been so overwhelming that we should not
feel justified in continuing them for a further period.
May I suggest to your Excellency that you should telegraph in this sense to your
Government, since the matter is one that calls for very early decision ?
I have, &c
CURZON OF KEDLESTON.
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