Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-12-04
DOUBLE DEALING IN EUROPE.

DOUBLE DEALING IN EUROPE.
Ii the statement of the Washing
,on PCit IN kts issue OF the 2Sth ult.
=; to be accepted at its face value,
len President Woodrow Wilson },
one Of tho most disappointed men
this country has ever produced. His
disgust with his allied associates
MUST have been apparent and he must
have displayed his temper on many
occasions during his temporary rest
dence i'll Paris. Germany was charg
with negotiating secret treaties and
with having but slight respect for it's
obligations, but none OF these charg-
es We're more serious than those con
tanned in tho singing indictment OF
the Allies by ono Of the most influen
tial Journals in this country. 1t said:
An enormous field of speculation
and controversy is revealed by tho
United States note to Great Britain,
dealing with the disposition Of re-
sources I'm regions taken from the emo
my. These regions were parceled out
among certain allied powers by SO.
crot treaties made during the war
and kept from tho knowledge Of
President Wilson until he actually or
rived in Paris to negotiate an honor
able peace. When 1T was found neo
cssary to yield TO Mr.. Wilson's in
siste,t demand for league Of nat
ions, the powers invented the mail
date scheme; under which they re-
tanned tho regions they had already
agreed to divide among themselves
but under tho pretense OF receiving
them I'm trust rs agents Of the league
Of nations.
The league covenant provision deal
ing with mandates Is one OF the mos,
eloquent and tdealistic In tho entire
rhapsody. 1t contemplates the govern
ment of inundated areas In the In
terest OF tho people thereof, and does
not make any provision for monopoly
or special privilege in favor Of the
power that accepts the mandate. Tho
responsible power is supposed TO re
port to THO league Of nations, gl7tng
o'i s]SSouiiShISt VI 40 tiuSt.
1t appears, however, that In actual
practice the areas taken over by
Great Britain and France contain
rich natural resources, white tho
areas which they have refused 10
take over have no resources ut ali.
This Coincidence has become more
striking since the two powers named
made an agreement at San Rem
virtually providing that each should
B.ye the other an equal share of the
resources OF all areas held by it, but
milking no provision for nations thai
fought us allies and associates with
them, Thus. the United States and
nu.e.um for example are excluded
irQm equal opportunity with Great
brltaiu IN tho exploitation OF the
oil resources of MestIotamia. Bus
e.ther the United States or Belgium
| Id tree 10 take a mandate over Armen
ia which has no oil resources.
And agNp:
I1ye United States now notifies
! -. oa- i...,ln that II expects all pow
crs holding mandates to give equal
opportunities 10 ull ouher nations
th"t fought on the allied side, when
tie time comes TO exploit tEc res.u-o
es Oh regions taken from tho enemy.
That is a just demnnd, no DOUBT,
but IL wLi never be effective unless
backed NY The iirmest determination
;.uu most complete Information, 1t
ii not tho intention or the British
eo,o4nnlcnL to share the riches Of
newly acquired territories. The agree
..rI.t wnuIcuy tranCe gets an equal
opportunity would not have been
nA,>4e except for the fact that France
was 20 acquire the oil fields OF Mos
vi under the first secret agreement.
Representatives OF Nrance surrend-
orcu her Advantages III Mesopttam-
4, .or the Sake Of Winning Mr.. Lloyd
George over to her side in her strug
s..c win Mr.. Wilson for possess ION
OF the left bank Of tue Rhine. Great
ErlValn took. over the MeSopotamiu
l. gin but it was subsequently ro-
Nc,.lud that NJ. Clemenceau had no.
"iahcd The secret agreement trans
ferring French rights in Mesopotam-
II. These rights were revived, and
NC lai.ure OF France to get the
.a1ac LAX. Accordingly Great Sri
t;.ln found ii to her advantage 10
CclIf;hm Sc with France, which YRS
;ione at San Reno. All this was
Trough, cut IN official debate in tie
French Chamber Of tepuu.es
Fn "hLt Il the principle Of man
,.>..>.o, UnUer which the regions takeE
from the enemy were to be govern
ed in the interest Of the peoples there
OF? What Of the duty Of fair play
md faithful counsel among the IA:
I themselves IN to b. me
sponsors OF the leagle OF nations
and the guardians OF the worlds
peace based upon justice?
Tho Post continued:
The San Reno agreement divides
the sn"ls between Two nations. lc,v
'Ng ahH ether allies and the United
fctH a,