Norwich bulletin., 1920-11-26
UNITED STATES FIRM ON
 STAND ON MANDATES

Washington, Nov 25.-(By The A. P.) The American government has informed Great Britain politely but firmly that it does not propose to be excluded from participation in the rights and privileges secured under mandates provided in the treaties of peace. Furthermore, it ex- poets to be heard regarding the terms Of those mandates before they are put into force.
 The position of the United States is set forth in note by Secretary Colby to Earl Curzon, the British secretary of state for foreign affairs, and the specific question discussed is that of the Mesopo- tamian petroleum fields. Mir Coiby's note is dated November 20 and was made public today following it's delivery to the British foreign office early this week. Il is in reply to British note of last Aug ust Eth, which has never been made pub lie, and which deals with the applica- tion of the principles of equality of treat. ment to the territor / of the Near East to be placed under Lritish mandate The American note takes issue witt what is described as the British posi- tion that mandate agreements and trea- ties are to be considered only by states that are members of the league of na. tions. It states that the United States
 
 contributor to it's successful is --.n. not consider any of the associated DOW CTS, the smallest not less than itself, de barred from discussion of any of it's con sequences, or from participation in tn; 1 rights and privileges secured under tn, mandates provided in the treaties O. l peace"
 i MT. Colby says in his note that tn, American government accepts the state ment of the British government that i i has refrained from exploiting the petro leum resources~of the m z lated territor 1 ies in question and welcomes YOU pledges" that it is far from the intention | of Great Britain to establish any kint of monopoly of preferred position in it i own interest"
 T need hardly refer again. MT Colb, continued, Ito the fact that the govern mentNof the United States has consistent l ly urged that it is of the utmost Crt ance to the future peace of the worlC that alien territory transferred as a re suit of the war with the Central Power should be held and administered in sue | a way as to assure equal treatment t | the commerce and to the citizens of al nations. Indeed, 1t was in reliance upo an understanding to this effect, and ex pressly in contemplation thereof, that tn | acquisition under mandate of certain CT emy territory by the victorious power would be consistent witb~'the best inter ests of the world.
 Tt is assumed, accordingly, that you
 statements with reference to mandate
 (not described) together with the stat,
 ment that the draft mandates for Mest
 potamia and Palestine have been prt
 pared with view to secure equality ( treatment for the commerce and citizer of all states which are members of tn league of nations, do not indicate a SUI
 position on your part that the Unite States can be excluded from the benefi of the principle of equality of Urea ment"
 Referring to the statement by tf British government that the draft maj
 dates for Mesopotamia and Palestin
 which have been prepared, will, when a
 proved, by the interested allied power
 be communicated to the council of u league of nations, the American seer
 tary of state says "tiie United Stat. is, undoubtedly, one of the powers q : rectly interested in the terms of u t mandates, and I, therefore, request tn = the draft mandates be communicated Q this government for it's consideration b l fore their submission to the council n | the league''
 MT. Colby then frankly states that t l American government finds difficulty
 reconciling" the special arrangement $ F forth in the so-called San Reno petr
 leum agreement between Great Brita
 and France, with the British gover
 ment's statement that the petroleum !, sources of Mesopotamia and freedom action in regard thereto, will be secur to the future Arab state, as yet uno e ganized.
 Referring to some allusion' made e the original British note to American S l. premacy in the petroleum industry, \ 2 Colby says that to correct misappl n hension,. which your note ref1ects." e will state that 'the United States pc
 sesses only oTs-twelfth approximately
 the petroleum resources of the worl
 and that "the oil resources of no oth c nation have been so largely drawn up
 for foreign needs.' 7- But it is not these aspects of oil pI h duction and supply. in so far as they a Is of domestic interest to the United Stat l. with which I am concerned in this d ,r cussion, says the secretary of state, le conclusion. T have alluded to them r. order to correct confusing inferenc
 liable to arise from certain departur