New-York tribune., 1920-07-30
L. s. Asks Facts
InAnglo-F rench
Oil Agreement
Washington Ready to Pro-
test if Plan to Obtain
Output of Mandataries
Affects American Trade
Treaty Violation Hinted
State Department Prepared
to Insist That Nations Up
hold "Open Door" Policy

From The Tribunc's Wushin0ton Rureou
WASHINGTON, July 29.--The Anglo
French petroleum agreement, published ID
IN England yesterday by the British
government, has stirred the United
States government to action to protect
American oil and other trade interests
IN territories over which Great Britain
and France have become manufactures
through the Treaty of Versailles.
Neprcsen >ations have been sent to
the British government requesting full
information regarding the agreement
which was reported to be an under
standing whereby France was to re-
ceive rs per cent of the oil from Meso-
potamia, Rumania, Asia Minor, Galicia
and parts of old Russia
The text of the agreement is being
awaited by the State Departments be-
fore any formal protest is filed. 1t
was explained to-day that the repre-
sentations that were made through
Ambassador Davis at London merely
requested the text of the agreement
and the facts concerning it.
Large American Holdings
1t was said at the State Department
that the agreement probably applies
only to the oil produced in those coun-
tries by British companies and that if
such is the case the United States
would take no action whatever. British
OIL interests are extensive in that part
of the world, but the Standard Oil
Company and other American com
panies also have large holdings.
If the Anglo-French agreement should
affect the American oil interests III any
way, it was stated, a vigorous protest
Will be made by the American govern
ment. The State Department issued the
following statement regarding it's ac-
tion on the agreements;
THE Department of State has re
ce.ved information that an Anglo
French petroleum agreement has been
published by the British government.
The department has made representa-
tions to the British government regard
ing certain provisions that apply to
petroleum in mandate territories. and
IS giving careful consideration to other
features of the agreement"
The United States government has
Deen carr, ing on discussions with Great
Britain and France for the last month
regarding the administration of British
and French mandates under the Yer
salles treaty.
me treaty provisions were not ex-
pnclt as to how the mandatory govern
h'ents should administer the mandates,
ana TINS government. it was explained.
is insisting that the "open door, Dolicv
be adhered to-
The United States government is
standing upon the attitude expressed hv
rresldent Wilson in his note ON the
urklsh treaty, sent last March in
which he declared that the JlnitaI
states would insist that no mandate he
ADMINISTERED IN such a way as Ia rn-
strict the freedom of the United States
or any other nation to trade as freol ,
III 'ne MANDATORY country as the nation
administering the mandate.
L. S. Attitude Explained
no speciflc violation of tho opon
uoor pflnclple has come to tho atten-
o!on OF the state Department. it was
eNpia'neo' but 1t was said that the ac
;n0n OF 1he supreme Economic Council
IN Europe IN endeavoring TO apnortio,
the world supply o raw materidls bas
caused the United States government
10 emphasize its attitude on the olass
tlon OF mandates.
Inc United States Withdrew from, +ho
economic council soon after the Ver-
ailes treaty was signed Th 5 govern
meht M, took the position that since the
war Trade Board and the United States
ROOD Administration had ceased to act
as centTa selling bodies for raw ma
.erlals and food supplies, competition
aiso should be restored in the pur.
chaslng market
IN the discussions that have been car
iled on the United States government
mas insisted that the actions of the
economic council, especially in coun.
lrles that have become mandatorics
under the treaty, should not in anv
way AFFECT the trade of this country