New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-16
Irak-Mesopotamia
Appeals to u. S. to
Recognize Freedom
Message To Be Laid Before
Congress When 1t Recon-
venes Recites Ideals and
Promises Outlined in War

Appeal has been made to Congress to
~srncnize the independence of Irak-
Mesopotamia, by Solemn session"
bejd in Damascus in fulfillment of the
setuating purposes in the World War.
This formal appeal has been received
hr William Tyler Page, clerk of the
uouse of Representatives in Washing
Kan who will lay it before Congress
vixen it reassembles in December
This document says, in part, as fol-
lows:
,;co The recent war at the side of the
ssISies to liberate itself from foreign
wake, reconquer its past glory, continue
Is suecial role in the work of civiliza-
Ism of the Orient, and realize by it's
unity and independence, its national as
n;rstiors as other peoples have done.
The noble Allies have promised
.heir help in this generous work and
row declared through their respective
gnyerrments and pariiaments that their
ehiect in this great war was to render
onnressed people independent. and to
setshlished their liberty to decide their
avn fate and to select their form Of
government
Cites Well known Treaty
Great Britain concluded we'll
known treaty with his majesty King
Eussein, wherein she recognized the
Independence of the Arabian nation,
from the Taurus and the north of the
Vilayet Of Mossoul down to the Per-
SIAN gulf and the Indian ocean, with
the Red Sea as the southern frontier.
"President Wilson confirmed this
treaty by the noble principles which
he proclaimed and which the Allies
adopted and accepted as the basis for
durable peace. According to senti-
ments embodied in the declarations
OF Lord Edward Grey, the British min
;ster of Foreign Affairs, before the par
liamentary commission of foreign af-
fairs on October IS, 1916; according
to the declarations of NJ. BRAND, pres
idens OF the French council in 1915;
According to response of the Allies
to an address OF the Central powers
transmitted through the mediation of
the United States Ambassador ct Paris;
according 20 the response Of the Allies
u the address Of President Wilson
on May %, 1917; according to the
resolution of the French Parliament
OF June ;, 1911; according to that of
the Senate OF May E; according 10 the
speech delivered by Mr.. Lloyd George
on June .. 1917. at Glasgow; and ac-
cording TO q large number of other
declarations, It was clearly acknowl-
edged that all peoples, small or great,
have the right TO declare their lot
with entire freedom and that all secret
treaties Incompatible with their in
dependence are TO be done away with.
No Relief Has Come
But the great war ended nearly g
year and { half ago. And yet the
country groans as before under a for
eign occupation. which has caused it
great losses, both material and moral,
and which has paralyzed the progress
OF is affairs in a way which has com
promised lis political situation
We unanimously proclaim the COM
plete independence of the Arabian ma
tons. We declare the present
military occupation at an end, to be
replaced by responsible national gov
eminent. We express our desire to
conserve the friendship Of our allies
and to respect their present and future
interests. as we'll as the interests of
the other powers. We petition them
10 recognize our independence and to
withdraw from our country their
troops, which viii then be replaced by
national army, in order that we may
be able TO play an effective role in
the work OF civilization and of human
progress. Washington Evening Star.