Papers written by Curzon on the Near and Middle East [‎47v] (94/348)

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alike by its sympathies and its material resources to undertake this task on behalf
humanity is America. It has, indeed, been rightly described in Mr Colby s note as
“ the demand and expectation of the civilised world. ISor could the buprc
Council forget that the inclusion of a liberated Armenia among the objects lor which
the Allied and Associated Powers fought and won the war nowhere receive more
eloquent expression than in the speeches of President Wilson. TT ,
Accordingly, the Supreme Council now address a definite appeal to the L mtcd
States Government to accept the mandate for Armenia. They do so not from t ic
smallest desire to evade any obligations which they might be expected to undertake,
but because the responsibilities which they are already obliged to bear in connection
with the dissolution of the former Ottoman Empire will strain their own capacities
to the uttermost, and because they believe that the appearance on the scene of a Power
emancipated from the prepossessions of the old world will inspire a wider confidence
and afford a firmer guarantee for stability in the future than would the selection of
any European Power. . „ .
The United States Government might well enquire, what is the scope of the
obligations which they are invited to accept ; and this involves the boundaries of the
new I State. The question is one to which it is in the power of that Government itself
to formulate a reply.
In the course of the discussions that have been proceeding there has been no
problem more earnestly debated or more difficult of solution than the boundaries best
consonant with the interests of the Armenian State. The President of the United
States has consistently pleaded the cause of a larger Armenia; considerations with
which the President is already familiar have inevitably compelled the partial curtail
ment of these aspirations; and the prospect of creating an Armenia which should
include Cilicia and extend to the Mediterranean has for long been abandoned as
impracticable.
There remained the questions, what portions of the Vilayets of Erzeroum,
Trebizond, Van and Bitlis, still in the possession of the Turkish authorities, could
properly and safely be added to the existing Armenian State of Erivan, and what
means of access to the sea should be provided in order to ensure to the new Armenia
a self-sufficing national existence. In other words, it remained to be settled what
should be the exact boundaries on the west and south w r hich should be inserted in the
Peace Treaty with Turkey. The boundaries of Armenia on the north-west, and
north, and north-east with the adjoining States of Georgia and Azerbaijan it is
hoped to settle by a mutual agreement between these Republics. In any case, these
do not call for mention here.
Upon the above questions there was much to be said upon both sides which need
not be recapitulated in this note. Suffice it to say that an appeal to the decision of
an independent and absolutely impartial arbiter was recognised as the best
available solution, and that it was decided to include in the appeal to the President
of the United States a request to this effect. Whatever may be the answer of the
United States Government on the larger subject of the mandate, it is earnestly hoped
that he will, in the interests both of Armenia and of the peace of the East, accept
this honourable obligation.
In this expectation it has been agreed :—
(a.) To make an appeal to President Wilson that the United States of America
should accept a mandate for Armenia within the limits set forth in
Section V of the first print of the draft Treaty of Peace with Turkey.
(b.) That, whatever may be the answer of the United States Government on the
subject of the mandate, the President of the United States should be
asked to arbitrate on the boundaries of Armenia as set forth in the draft
article below.
(c.) That an article in regard to Armenia should be inserted in the Treaty of
Peace in the following sense :—
Turkey and Armenia and the other High Contracting Parties
agree to refer to the arbitration of the President of the United StatevS
of America the question of the boundary between Turkey and
Armenia, in the Vilayets of Erzeroum, Trebizond, Van and Bitlis,
and to accept his decision thereupon, as well as any stipulations he
may prescribe as to access to the sea for the independent State of
Armenia.
Pending the arbitration, the boundaries of Turkey and Armenia
shall remain as at present.