Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-01
OPPOSITION Of j. s.
| TO OIL MONOPOLY
WORRIES ALLIES
England and France Ignore
America in Dividing Turk
ish Lands.
BY RALPH COURTNEY.
BY Cable to The Star and New York
Tribune. Copyright, 1870.


PARIS. July 31-In total disregard
of American wishes, England and
France have decided to divide be-
tween themselves all petrol produced
in the mandatory sections of the
former Turkish empire. officials of
the two governments. however, ex-
press concern over dispatches from
Washington which indicate that the
United States government does not
intend to accept meekly the Anglo
French oil monopoly.
In the last paragraph of President
Wilson's note of March 4 replying to
the allies about the Turkish ques
ton, he stated Americas understand
ing to be that arrangements in re-
gard TO territories formerly belong
ing to the Turkish empire should be
such that American citizens and cor
porations and the citizens and cor
porations of any other nation would
not be in less favorable position than
the citizens and corporations of any
power party to these arrangements.
Interpret U. s. Attitude.
This paragraph. it is stated in au-
thoritative quarters here, was intend
ed to mean that America is not ask
ing more for herself than for any
other country, but that she insists on
an open-door policy in the mandatory
regions Americas attitude is that
Turkish mandates were given to
France and England for the benefit of
the inhabitants of the territories in
question and that England and France
therefore have no right to parcel the
oil among themselves.
The fact that the United States has
not Joined the league of nations is
not considered in American quarters
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 lame excuses that the
United States declined to take any re-
sponsibility in the Turkish question
may have led Turkey to believe that
she (Turkey) 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 under
stood. are also counting on the Sen
to prevent the United States from
supporting him in his fight for an
open door in the mandatory regions
Agreement Signed at Reno.
The agreement between France and
England was signed at San, Reno by
Premiers Lloyd George and Millerand
under date of April "a. The Meso-
potamian section forms part of the
world arrangement between them.
France thus obtained rights to petrol
in which product she is greatly lack
ing, and in return for the general
oil agreement she coded the Mousul
region to England.
In part of the general agreement
France receives 25 per cent of the
oil output in Mesopotamia, whether
exploited by the government or by
private companies. Native interests
in such private companies are limited
to 20 per cent and France is to give
special canalization across her man
datory territory. France also consents
to construction of pipe lines and rail-
ways across the territory under her
influence to one OF more Mediter-
ranean ports.
France also guarantees transit
through French spheres, free of tax.
and grants other special facilities and
rights. In this way Mesopotamian
oil is secured for France and England
under monopolistic conditions.