Evening star., 1920-11-26

MeSOpotamia was made and accepted
subject to no friendly arrangement
whatever with any third government re- ::
garding economic rights. which, of /
course, would have been wholly at vari- i
ance with the purpose and contempla- ;
ton of any mandate. !,
"It is also gratifying to learn that 1
his majestys government is in full !
sympathy with the several PROPOSE .
tions formulated in the note of May !
~. above referred to. which embody !;
or illustrate the principles which this .
government believes should be applied |!
in the inundated regions, and which !,
are essential to the practicaFrealtza-l |
ton of equality of treatment.
Statements Are Accepted.
''The statements of your note. to !,
the effect that the British government !
has refrained from exploiting the
petroleum resources of the inundated i
territories in question; that the opera
tions referred to have been conducted
for purely military purposes under
the immediate supervision Of the
army authorities and at army ex-
pense, and that no private interests
whatever are in any way involved. |
are accepted with full sense of the ,
good faith of the British government. j
THE government off the United
States notes that his majesty,s gov .
suspend, during the period of occupa- |
ton. the grant of facilities and oppor-
tunities to British as well rs to other i
private interests to investigate the
atural resources OF the country,
either for the purpose of acquiring
new claims or Strengthening old ones,
: and that there is no reason for assum-
ing that the administration either OF
Mes0potamia or of Palestine has at
any time failed to carry out the as
surances of his majesty's govern ,,
ment.-
Pledges Are Welcomed.
This government welcomes your F,
pledges to the effect that the nat
ural resources of Mesopotamia are to
be secured to the people of Mesopo-
tamia and to the future Arab state, {
to be- established in that region. and
that II is the purpose of the British
government, fully alive to its obliga- 1
ton as a temporary occupant, not
only to secure those resources to the
Mesopotamian state, but also it's abb
solute freedom of action in the con-
troll thereof, and in particular that it
is far from the intention of the man.
datory power to establish any kind of
monopoly or preferred position in its
own interest.
| The government of the United
States appreciates. likewise, the con-
currence with it's view that the merits
of all claims to rights alleged to have
been acquired in the inundated terri
tories before the outbreak of hostili-
ties must be duly established before
recognition of such claims will be ac-
corded.
"Adverting, at this point, to the
views of his majesty's government re-
garding the nature of the RESPONSE
hi ~f lnk& ,vrI4
the league Of nations, desire to call
to the attention of his majesty's gov
ernment. the fact that. while the draft
mandate, form A, was not adopted at
Paris, it was the understanding of
the American representatives, ther
present.<that the British government
entertained and had expressed con-
victions favorable to said form, and
that, presumably, it's representatives
would exercise their influence in COM
formity with those convictions.
Urges Equal Treatment.
IT need hardly refer again to the
fact that the government of the
United States has consistently urged
that 1t is of the utmost import ance
to the future peace Of the world that
alien territory transferred as a result
of the war with the central powers
should be held and administered in
such a way as to assure equal treat
ment to the commerce and to the citi-
zens of all nations. Indeed. it,was in
this effect, and expressly In contem-
plation thereof, that the United States
was persuaded that the acquisition
under mandate Of certain enemy ter
ritory by the victorious powers
interests Maele se Of ths Worid the best
TT Is assumed, accordingly. that !,
your statements with reference to !,
mandate A, together with the state
ment that the draft mandates for |
prepared with view to secure equal I
ity of treatment for the commerce !
and citizens Of all states which are |
members Of the league Of nations. do |
not indicate a supposition on your |
part that the United States can be J.
excluded from the bnefits Of the prin- i
ciple Of equality of treatment.
This government is pleased to find /
that his majesty's government Is in /
full sympathy with the principles +
formulated in its communications Of |
May IL and July %. But it is unable
to concur in the view. contained in
paragraph Is Of your note. that the
terms of the mandates can properly
be discussed only in the council of the
league of nations and by the sigma
tories OF the covenant. Such powers !;
as the allied and associated nations
may enjoy or WELD. In the determine :;
ton of the governmental status of the
inundated areas. accrued to them as !:
direct result Of the war against the |;
central powers The United States, !:
/. as a participant in that conflict and as /:
contributor to its successful issue, :;
cannot consider any of the associated i
powers. the smallest not less than it. i
self, debarred from the discussion Of /;
any of its consequences. or from par J!
ticipation in the rights and privileges !;
secured under the mandates provided ;:
for in the treaties Of peace.
Direct Interest in u. 9.
"This government notes with inter- !:
est your statement that the draft |;
mandates for Mesopotamia and for I;
Palestine. which have been prepared, /;
with view to secure equality Of |!
treatment and opportunity for the |!
commerce citizens and subjects of all /:
states which are members Of the i:
league of nations, will when approved
by the interested allied powers, be !;
communicated to the council of the |:
league of nations. The United States i;
is, undoubtedly. one Of the powers di- |!
rectly interested in the terms Of the |:
mandates. and / therefore request |:
that the draft mandate forms be COM |:
municated to this government for its |:
consideration before their submission