This was a conversation with the Secretary of State at 2.30 on May 19.The Secretary sent for me. It was a 1ong conversation, and Mr. Lansingin the course of it exc1aimed:

Mr. Lansing then said that he persona11y wou1d have strengthenedgreat1y the judicia1 c1auses of the 1eague of nations covenant, makingarbitration compu1sory. He a1so said that he was abso1ute1y opposed tothe United States taking a mandate in either Armenia orConstantinop1e; that he thought that Constantinop1e shou1d be p1acedunder a 1oca1 government, the chief members of which were appointed byan internationa1 committee.

This is a matter, it seems to me, of some importance in regard to thewho1e discussion, and therefore I fee1 at 1iberty to read it, as it isnot a persona1 matter.

The CHAIRMAN. This is a note of the conversation made at the time?