New-York tribune., 1920-11-26
Colby Notifies Great Brit
ain of Objections to
Restriction of Discus
sion to League Nations
Chief Issue Based
On Oil Resources
Opposition to Creation of
Special Interests i'm the
Near East Made Clear

y,er. rAe Tyssunes Washington Bureov
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25. -- The spe-
.;6e demand that the American govern
mept be accorded equal privileges with
all other governments, within or out
aida Of the League of Nations, In all
mandate territories. is made in the
limited States note 20 Great Britain,
made public here to-day. The note Is
ths third that has passed between the
two governments on the subSsct of oil
concessions in mandate territories. It
Gas delivered by American Ambassador
John ". Davis to the British Foreign
Office Wednesday and Is addressed to
Earl Curzon, Secretary of State FOR
Foreign Affairs. The note is signed by
Secretary Of State cambridge Colby.
While dealing particularly with the
distribution of the oil resources Of
Nesopotsmia, the American protest also
sets forth the right Of the United States,
as one Of the powers associated in the
victory over the Central powers, to be
consulted as to the terms of mandates
and other decisions the right to make
which accrued to the Allies SIS q result
Of their common victory.
Secretary Colby insists upon the ap-
pljcaton Of the principle Of equality
Of treatment Of all nations, irrespective
Of the mandatory power, with special
reference to the petroleum resources
Of the territories involved, and pro-
tests against the exploitation of these
resources bv any nation to the discrm-
nation Of others.
Objects to League Barrier
Sharp issue is taken with the British
governments contention that the drafts
Of the mandates for Mesopotamia and
Palestine have been prepared with q
view to securing equality of treatment
for the commerce and citizens of all
states (which art members of the
League of Nations" and that the terms
Of the mandates can properly be dis
cusssd only in the Council of the
League of Nations and by the sigma
tories Of the covenant.
The American note stands firmly on
its contention that this government is
entitled to an equal voice with all
others in the question or mandates.
The note further asserts that the
United States SIS undoubtedly one OF
the powers directly interested in the
terms of the mandates and | therefore
request that the draft mandate forms
be communicated to this government
for its consideration before their sub
mission to the Council of the league
The note asserts that the "frankest
discussion" should be given to the
drafts of the mandates "ln order that
the fullest opportunity may be afford
ed to consideC their terms in relation
to the obligations assumed by the
mandatory power, and the spective
interests Of all governments which are
or deem themselves concerned or af-
fected."
The difficulty of harmonizing the
agreement reached between France and
Great Britain in the San Reno petro-
leum agreement with the statement
that the petroleum resources of Mcso-
potamia viii be secured to the future
Arab state Is touched on in the note
IS we'll as the statement of the British
Mister in charge of petroleum affairs
that the San Reno agreement was
based on the principle that the conces-
sions granted by the former Turkish
government must be honored.
Selfish Interest Denied
In conclusion the note asserts that
this government has no selfish interest
in Mesopotamia or other mandate terri
tory, based on the assumption that this
governments policy is predicated lin
any degree on considerations of the
domestic need or production of petro-
ieum or any other commodity"
The full text of the note follows:
"Nov 20, 1920.
THE Right Honorable Earl Curzon
OF Kedleston. X. G.. His Maiestv's
Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs. etc.
My Lord:
II have the honor to refer to YOUR
note OF August 8 regarding the appli-
tContinued page thrcs)