Papers written by Curzon on the Near and Middle East [‎49v] (98/348)

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of the former Ottoman Empire hardly seems to be compatible with the execution n
the League itself of a mandate for one of these regions. Having these considera
tions in mind, the Council, though it has no desire to give too narrow or pedan ic an
interpretation to its power, has come to the conclusion that the future of the Armenian
Nation could best be assured if a member of the League or some other 1 ower could
be found willing to accept the Mandate for Armenia under the supervision and witn
the full moral support of the League, under the general conditions laid down undei
Article
But until the intentions of the Supreme Council of the Allies on cenain funda
mental points are clearly defined, it will be difficult for the Council to ascertain
whether any members would be prepared to accept the responsibility foi sucli a
mandate. . „ . ,
I. The Government of the Armenian Republic will require substantial financial
advances in order to secure, in an exhausted country, the services essential to eveiy/
State. Without these essential advances the independent Republic of Armenia
cannot be constituted under satisfactory conditions.
The Council of the League of Nations is of the opinion that it would not be tan
to expect the member of the League invited to exercise a mandate for Armenia to
assume the financial responsibilities involved in such a mandate; nor is it probable
that any member of the League would accept a mandate under such conditions.
The League of Nations possesses no financial resources of its own. The Council
is disposed to recommend the Assembly to guarantee such a loan from all the
countries members of the League of Nations. Until the decision ol the Assembly
can be taken the Council desires to know whether the Supreme Council of the Allies
is prepared to make the necessary advances or to give a provisional financial
guarantee to the independent Republic of Armenia. .
II. A large part of the territory of the independent Republic of Armenia is at
present under the domination of the Ottoman Empire and is occupied by the Turkish
army. The League of Nations, haying no military force at its disposal, is not in a
position to compel the Turks to evacuate the territory of the Armenian Republic.
The Council of the League would be glad to know whether the Allied Powers are
prepared to assure to the Republic of Armenia, if necessary by force, the restitution
of the territories formerly belonging to the Ottoman Empire and now to be assigned
to the Republic of Armenia.
Even when the territory of Armenia has been freed from Turkish troops
there may for some considerable period still be need for military forces beyond
the resources of a Mandatory Power. The Council of the league would wish to be
informed whether, in these’ circumstances, the Supreme Council of the Allies is
prepared to provide for the defence of Arilienian territory until it can be assured by-
other means.
III. Any member of the League of Nations who may be invited to accept a
mandate for Armenia will doubtless desire to know what, if any, arrangements have
been made by the draft Treaty of Peace with Turkey to secure free access to the sea
for the independent Armenian Republic, and this not only in the interests of Armenia
herself, but in order that full facilities of communication between the Armenian
Republic and the Mandatory Power may be assured. The Council of the League
trusts, therefore, that the Supreme Council of the Allies may find it possible to notify
their intention both as regards the Port of Batoum and as to the measures which
will be taken to assure the future protection not only of the town, but also of the lines
of communication between the port and the territory of the Armenian Republic.
Should the Supreme Council of the Allies find it possible to give the Council oi
the League adequate assurances on these points, the Council of the League will then
undertake informal enquiries with a view to ascertaining whether any member of
the League would be prepared to accept a mandate for Armenia under the abov*^
conditions. If these enquiries have a favourable result, the Council of the League
will invite the member concerned to communicate immediately with the Supreme
Council of the Allies in order to obtain the requisite information relating to such
essential questions as the future boundaries of Armenia and the reyime to be applied
to the neighbouring States.
IV. The Council does not conceal its opinion that by far the best solution of
the Armenian question would h? the acceptance of a mandate for Armenia by one
of the civilised Powers. Such a solution would be acceptable to Armenia
conformable to the general diplomatic arrangements on which the Covenant of the
League of Nations is based, and liksly to be more conducive than any other plan to