New-York tribune., 1919-02-03
America Declines
Profer of Lands
Great Britain Likely to
Get Control Over Asia
Minor and Also Arabia
By Frederick Moore
Ne'c York Tribune

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Copyright, 1919. Now York rribuno r,
fAklS, Feb. 2.-In allocating terri
torres to the different powers bv the
process OF compromise two mighty co
ionlal empires, already vast in extent
ana undeveloped material wealth .ro
being rapidly augmented by the peace
conference. Successes, failures. tri-
umphs and disappointments are follow
ing each other in rapid succession as
the compromises are being reached
across the green baize tables in Tho
Foreign Office at the Quai d'Orsay.
IN effect. apart and aside sit Prcsi-
dent Wilson and Secretary Lansing in
the inner council Of the FIVE great nou
ers, neither seeking nor expecting tor
rltorlai ALLEGATIONS. which are being Of
tered to them on Americas behalf but
using their influence in assisting in The
distribution of mandates on behalf Of
the league Of nations and in conform
1ty with President Wilson'S princinIos
of equity.
France in Africa
The feature of contiguity figures
largely IN the ALLEGATION of the dc
stroyed Turkish and German colonial
empires, and on this, as well as on
other grounds, France has been ner-
suaded TO withdraw her claim to SYRIA
and accept instead the Kamerun and
Togoiand. Thus the French African
empire, covering q great knob which
forms the northwest section of the
continent from the Mediterranean Sea
across the Sudan and Sahara to the
South Atlantic Ocean, is rounded out.
with the exception of minor terrific
rial possessions belonging to Spain.
Portugal, Great Britain and Liberia.
England's colonial expansion is of
even greater and immediate impor-
tance, as it gives her practical control
over all Mahometan cities with fhe
exception of Constantinoplc. whose fut-
ure is now being considered at the
Quai d'Orssy. With varying degrees
of control, extending from a mere pro
tectorste, like that which will be estab-
lished over the Hedjaz, to actual gov
crnmcnt, Great Britains authority now
extends from Tripoli across Egypt, Ara
bia, Mesopotamia, Palestine and Syria
to Southern Persia and India, which
make up the heart of the great Mahom
etan belt that sweeps from the Atlantic
to the Pacific Ocean across North AT
rica and South Asia. 1t is understood
that the Zionist government in Pales-
tine will be under British protection.
Great Britain's Reward
In attaining these series of controls,
Great Britain reaps the reward for her
renowned colonial administration, Tor
not only the contiguity of Egypt and
India, but the prestige of the British
governors, influenced the decision Of
the conference in the work of terri
torial distribution.
Not only have the Americans advo-
Gated British control of the hitherto
wretch edly governed Turkish provinces,
but the natives emselves-Moslem.
Christian or Jew-ardently advocated
the ALLEGATION of the territories to
Great Britain The Mahometans, of
course, have. always desired independ-
ence. except where the domination Of
foreign powers caused them to choose
a protectorate, as in the present case
of the Hedjaz, whose Emir has allied
himself with Britain against Turkish
and expressed preference
here at Paris for British rather than
any other European protection.
As is commonly known, All agree
ment had been made prior to America
entry into the war that Russia should
assume control of Constantinople anA
the adjacent territories and that
France should receive Syria, but
Americas entry into the war and Rus
sia's withdrawal, and. finally, the AL
lies acceptance Of Wilson's fourteen
points in the armistice, worked ma
terial change, which is now being con-
and instead of Turkey being
divided among three great powers
Russia, France and Britain-control Of
the whole of Asia Minor and Arabia
promises to fall to Britain.
Must Find New Solution
The ALLEGATION of European Turkey
and Asia Minor territory will promptly
be considered by the conference. only
the disposition of the southern section
of the empire having already been
agreed upon. The Americans have sig-
nifed definitely their determination
not to accept any territorial mandate.
Therefore, the desire of certain British
and other statesmen that the United
States assume control of the Marmora