The New York herald., 1920-12-02
ARMENIAN PLIGHT.
HURTS MANDATES
Wilson'S Acceptance of Invi-
tation to Mediate In
wolves Them.
PREMIERS DISCUSS POINT
Britain Sees Mesopotamian
Oil Question Must Also Be
Settled Soon.
'REMIERS DISCUSS POINT
Special Gable to TIE NEW York HERALD.

Special Gable to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyri0ht, 1920, by THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London. Dec. l.
Premier Leygues Of France returned
to London tonight for conferences
with Premier Lloyd George of Great
Britain and Foreign Minister Count
SforZa of Italy, which will recon-
mence tomorrow with the possibility
of a much wider programme than that
originally intended. Unanimity re-
garding Greece has already been prac-
tically attained and there is no serious
talk of revision of the Treaty OF
Sevres unless the new Greek regime
bellies all it's promises.
But the acceptance by President
Wilson of the League of Nations in
vitation to use his good offices to set
tie the Armenian situation brings up
in a vital way not only the actual con-
dition of Asia Minor, in which the
Greeks are nvolved-through their
defence against Mustapha Kemal
Pasha. who is the greatest menace to
Armenia-but the entire position of
the mandataries in the Near East, in
cluding British control of the Meso-
potamian oil fields, and, in fact, the
entire position of mandataries gen.
orally.
THE NEW YORK HERALD correspondent
here is informed from an experienced
diplomatic source that while no such
subjects are on the formal agenda for
the meeting, there was confidence that
an informal discussion would take place
in which 1t might be decided that the
Premiers all go to Geneva and thrash
out the mandatory principle with the
League OF Nations. or in agreement
the principal Powers, some mandatory
conference be called Immediately to ex-
actly define the rights and privileges of
both the mandatory Powers and the ma
tions over which the mandates apply.
President Wilson's acceptance of the
Armenian task is generally welcomed
here. as is every move which argues for
participation by the United States in
world tasks. In this connection, Senator
Medill McCormick's visit here is being
closely watched all British observers
believing he has mission from Presi-
dent-elect Harding.
Undoubtedly additional satisfaction
over President Wilson's acceptance Of
the role of intermediary is in the fact
that IL he succeeds in achieving Ar
menian success It probably will include
the final disposition OF Mustapha Kemal.
IL America does take UP the Armenian
task. British experts believe It will not
be completed until after next March. in
which case they hold ii would afford an
excellent opportunity for the new Ad-
mlnistration in Washington to give an
actual demonstration Of what it's policy
in International cooperation Is to be.
Settlement OF the Anglo American
question regarding Mesopotamia admit
tedly cannot wait that long. Further
more. certain limitations have been re-
ceived in London in the last few days
through commercial rather than diplo-
matte channels whicN are leading i'm
portant British oil interests to urge the
Government 70 hasten the Mesopotamian
settlement.
These limitations include a reminder
that as much as 40 per cent. OF Great
Brltain's oil comes from territory under
American control and that British inter-
ests nave been allowed 20 operate freely
in the American oil fields. It was inti-
mated that II -A-crlcan interests were
not accorded n fair chance in the fields
for future development which are largely
under British control. British interests
may soon find themselves subject to an
embargo on the oil they get Mt the pres
SOURCES