The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1920-12-10
EQUAL RIGHTS
IN MANDATES
Colby Notifies Great Britain of OBJ
jections to Restriction of Dis
cussion to League Nations.
OIL FIELDS ARE ISSUE.
Secretary Declares That United States
as Contributor to Success Of War
"cannot Be Debarred From Dis
cusson of Its Consequences"

ington.-Secretary Colby's note
to Great Britain on Mesopotamia made
public here reveals the startling fact
that England has completed plans to
exclude the United States from any
participation in the resources of all
mandate territory throughout the
world on the ground that this govern
ment is not a member of the League
Of Nations
Protesting that the United States as
a contributor to the success Of the war
cannot be debarred from the discus
sion of any Of its consequences Secre-
tary Colby in his note, demands that
the draft mandate FORMS" particularly
those of Mesopotamia and Palestine
which have been kept secret, "be COM
nunicated to this government for its
consideration before their submission
to the council Of the League of Ma
tions."
In his note, which is regarded as the
most important as we'll as one of the
abest sent out by the government since
The armistice, Secretary Colby strongly
hints that Great Britain is guilty of
the most fragrant duplicity In Meso-
potamia.
"This government" he states, finds
difficulty in reconciling this special ar
rangement set forth in the so-called
San Reno petroleum agreement" (by
which Great Britain took rs per cent
to Frances 25) with your statement
that the petroleum resources of Meso-
potamia will be secured to the future
Arab state as yet uniformed"
The note was addressed to Lord Cur
zon. Secretary of Foreign Affairs. 1t
was made necessary by the failure of
Great Britain to answer two previous
notes demanding the open door in
Mesopotamia. These notes. while not
important in themselves, were aimed, it
was stated by high authority, to
they have had the precise desired eff
feet.
Introducing this note Secretary Col
by says:
II have the honor to refer to your
note of August 9. regarding the appll-
cation of the principle Of equality of
treatment to the territories of the Near
East to be placed under mandates,
and specifically to the petroleum re-
sources of those territories as affected
by that principle.
Before considering the observations
of his Majesty's Government on the
general principles advocated by the
United States, and agreed to by the
allied powers, for application to the
mandate over former Turkish terri
tory, as outlined in the notes of May
IL and July %, addressed to you on
behalf Of this government, 1 think it
will clarity the discussion to indicate
certain of your statements and assur-
ances which this government has been
pleased to receive.
"Thus, I note that the assignment
to Great Britain of the mandate for
Mesopotamia was made and accepted
subject to no friendly arrangements
whatever with any third government
regarding economic rights, which, of
course, would have been wholly at
variance with the purpose and con-
temptation of any mandate.
'It is also gratifying to learn that
his Majesty's Government is in full
sympathy with the several propositions
formulated in the note of May II,
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 practical realiza-
ton of equality of treatment.