New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-01
i. S. Protests
Oil Monopolyin
Turkish Fields
Objects to Franco-British
Agreement and Insists
on Open Door for All
an Mandate Territories
Natives To Be Considered
Fight Between Wilson and
Senate Is Counted On to
Delay American Action
By Ralph Courtney
Special Cable to Thc T,sn,,n.

Copyright. 1890 New York Tribune Inc
PARIS, July BIN total disregard
of American wishes, England and
France have decided to divide between
themselves all petrol produced in the
mandatory sections of the former Turk
ish Empire. Officials of the two GOV
ernments, however, express consider
sble concern over dispatches from
Washington which indicate that the
'fnited States government does not in
-end to accept meekly the Anglo French
oil monopoly.
In the last paragraph of President
Wilson'S note of March replying to
the Allies about the Turkish question.
he stated Americas understanding to
be that arrangements in regard to ter
ritories formerly belonging to the
Turkish Empire should be such that
American citizens and corporations and
citizens and corporations of any other
nation would not be in q less favor
able position than the citizens and cor
porauons OF any power party to these
arrangements.
This paragraph, it is stated in au-
to mean that America is not asking
more for herself than for any other
country, but that she insists on an
open door policy in the mandatory re-
gions. Americas attitude is that Turk
ish mandates were given to France and
England for the benefit of the inhabi-
tants of the territories in question, and
that England and France therefore
have no right to parcel the oil between
themselves.
League Case Does Not Matter
The fact that the United States has
not joined the League of Nations is
here as sufficient excuse for France
and England to close and bang the
Mesopotamian door in the face Of
America and other nations.
Europe's excuses that the United
States declined to take any RESPONSE
biity in the Turkish question have led
Turkey to believe that she has nothing
TO say in the matter Premier Lloyd
George used words to this effect in one
of his public speeches.
England and France, it is understood,
are also counting on the Senate's oppo-
sition to President Wilson to prevent
the United States from supporting him
in his fight for an open door in the
mandatory regions.
The agreement between France and
England WIS signed at San Reno by
Premiers Lloyd George and Millerand
under date Of April "a. The Mesopo-
tamian section forms part of the world
arrangement between them. France
thus obtained rights to petrol, in
which product she is greatly lacking,
and in return for the general oil agree
ment She ceded the Mousul region to
England.
What France Is to Receive
In part Of the general agreement
France receives 25 per cent Of the oil
output in Mesopotamia, whether ex-
plotted by the government or by pri-
vate companies. Native interests in
such private companies are limited to
20 per cent, and France is to give spe-
cial canalization across her mandatory
territory. France also consents to con-
struction of pipe lines and railways
across the territory under her infu-
enee to one or more Mediterranean
por.s.
France also guarantees transit through
FrencA spheres, Iree of tax, and grants
other snecial faci tiles and rights. In
this way Mesopotamian oil is secured
for France and England under monopo-
liStic conditiOrs