Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-11-06
England, France, Italy Sign
Agreement to Support
Spheres of Influence
SECRECY DISAVOW,ED
Pact Was COnsumated August 10 and
Just Now Given to World-Paris
Already Guessing.

Paris, Nov. 6.-France, Great Brit
ain and Ita:y have signed a trlpartite
agreement in which they undertake to
supper; each ether in maintaining
their Spheres CT Influence" in Tur-
key. The limit of the areas in which
the respective interests Of France and
Italy are recognized are defined by
the same document.
This agreement, it developed today
was signed at Sevres on August 10,
the day the public ceremonial of the
signing Of the peace treaty with
Turkey took place. Although the
agreement, it is explained, is not con-
sidered secret one, it nevertheless
has never been made public until now
after lapse Of nearly three months
since the signing. Under its own term
the document was to come into force
and be published at the time the Tur-
KEY peace treaty should 20 into eff
feet. This date is still an uncertainty.
In connection with examinatinn of
the text of the agreement, now avail
able, attention is being called here to
the fact that while the treaty defines
the spheres of Influence of France
and Italy-rccoenizirg the special in
terests of France in Cilicia and the
western part of Kur:iiatan bordering
en- Syria. and of Italy in southern
AnatoE Ea-,the British spheres Of in
fluenre are not only underlined. but
are not referred to. This has raised
the question if the agreement is sus-
ceptible of the Interpretation that the
British :rtercSts may be held to eN-
tcnd to any or alt the remaining parts
crf the Turkish Empire.
1t is Noted also that while the
agreement docs not take the form OF
an alliance, it nevertheless pledges
the contracting Powers to render dip
yonatic support to each other in main
tanning their respective positions in
the areas in which their special IN
teresss are recognized.
One section of the document pro-
vidcd for the exploitation Of the Bag
dad railway by company in which
British. French and Italian capital IS
eouIaGly Interested. 1t gives the eNpIoi
taticn of the Heracles coal mines. be-
tween Knnien and Atana, to Italy.
Article Y Of the agreement provides
rt,1t rcth;rr contained in it sha ! pre-
iudice the rights of nationals OF nom
sirnatorv States to free access 20 the
yaricus areas for commercial ard
economic purposes. The preamble
reads:
Being anxious to hep Turkey de-
ve!cn her resources. and to avoid tn"
international rivalrieS which have Oh
strueted objects in the past, and be-
;np desir;ou< to meet the request at
the Turkish Government that it re-
ccfye necessary assistance in the re-
organization Of justice. the Finances,
the rendearmeries apd nf the police,
|.6 the protection. cf. religious. racia.
and linguistic minoritics and the Geo
.nomic development of the country
considering that the autonomy or
eventual independence of RurdIsthn
has hccn recognized by thcm. ard TINT
i is dcsirahle with view to facil'-
tatFnr thc development Of that coun-
try and make provision for any as
sistancc It may require in its ad-
minis.ration. and TO avoid 'nterna-
tional r;valries in such matters: re-
corriz;ne the respective special in
tercs.s Of Italy IN southern Anara IA
anl Of France in Cilicia and the west
ern mar; Of Kurdistan bordering on
SYRIA. r;p to Jezire-1bn-Omar. As
these areas arc hereafter DEFINED, the
british. Italian and French Govern
mcntS have agreed.