George Van Horn Moseley
Published: 2015-07-07
Total Pages: 48
Get eBook
Excerpt from Mandatory Over Armenia: Report Made to Maj. Gen. James G. Harbord, United States Army, Chief of the American Military Mission, on the Military Problem of a Mandatory Over Armenia From: Brig. Gen. George Van Horn Moseley. To: Maj. Gen. James G. Harbord, Chief American Military Mission to Armenia. Subject: The military problem of a mandatory. When America was confronted with the problem of the recent war, every effort was made to keep us from being involved in it. For two years we kept on friendly terms with the nations which were at war, always with the hope that a settlement would be reached without our becoming involved. The efforts we made to keep out of the war went so far as to involve the criticism by first one power and then another. On the other hand, when we finally were confronted with a situation which made it our duty to enter the war, we did so on a very broad basis. Plans were made to cover every contingency. The home Government gave loyal support without regard to party lines, and a most carefully selected personnel was placed in charge of all our operations. To the professional soldier it was one of the most surprising features of the war to see our country, in which national defense was largely either neglected or based upon unsound legislation, entirely reverse itself and go to the limit in adopting sound principles for prosecuting the war. This, more than anything else, accounts for the national success we have. It is my opinion that we must approach the problems of the Near East in the same way. Half measures will certainly end in failure and show us up in a very unfavorable light as administrators before the world. So far we have had only a charitable connection with these problems. Repeatedly we have investigated the problems in the Near East, generally in connection with the sufferings of the Christian population. For years America has been very keenly alive to the sufferings of the Armenians. Singly, and in conjunction with the other powers, America has, at various times, addressed the Porte to institute reforms in the administration of Armenian affairs. America has also given large sums, through its missionary agents in Armenia, through its Red Cross work, and recently in the distribution of food and supplies for the destitute of all races in the Near East. It is certain, however, that little lasting good can be done on a charity basis to guarantee peace and good government in the Near East. The correcting of more than five centuries of misrule in Asia Minor is no small task. The responsibility can not he met by the giving of large sums through missionary societies, generally managed by noble characters with little practical business ability. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
