The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-09-16
HUGHES RE|TERATES
U. S. STAND IN NOTE
MEsoPoTAMiA AND FORMER pos
EssIoNs OF GERMANY INcLuD-
ING zap ARE DEALT WITH
Position Of United States on Mandate
10 Set Forth by Secretary Of State
IN Note to Great Britain,
France, Italy and Japan

Washington-The position Of the
United States on mandates has been
SET forth more completely than here,
70 fore, and especially In reference to
those of class "a" and 'B" In new
note to Great Britain, France, Italy
and Japan, and through some of them,
IL Is understood, has been submitted to
the league of nations assembly at Gen.
eva for consideration. r
announcement was made at the state
department Tuesday that the note was
dispatched last week, but no intimation
was given as to when it would be made
public, If at all.
1t Is understood that the note was
forwarded after inquiries had been re-
ceiyed from some powers as to the
American attitude toward the "a" and
'B' mandates for their guidance in
possibly considering the allotment of
some of the former enemy territory at
the Geneva meeting.
AS early as May II, 1920, the Amer
lean government had taken strong
stand against the setting up of any
special privileges in mandate territory,
especially as involving oil lands Of
Mesopotamia and the cable privileges
of zap, the latter claimed as a "C''
mandate by Japan. !,
In note of February 81, Secretary
Colby gave explicit warning that the
approval Of the United States was nee.
essary to validate any mandate, a
sanction which he contended had never
been given in the case of Yap. In sub
sequent notes by Secretary Hughes
this position was strengthened, the
proposition being laid down that, not
withstanding her refusal to ratify the
Versailles treaty, the United States, as
a victor in the war, could not be de-
prived of a full and equal voice in the
disposition Of all former Germantown
ed territories.
In this most recent note, Secretary
Hughes is understood to declare for
equality of treatment of all nations and
persons in trade and residence and con-
cessions in all mandate territories, not
restricting the claim to any class such
as Mesopotamia or zap, but applying
it to the three classes-"A", embracing
those like former Turkish territory,
which can be Professionally recognized
as independent ; "B", including those
like Central Africa, to be administered
under conditions providing equal OPP
portunities for trade; and "C'', those
like southwest Africa and the southern
Pacific islands, to be administered as
the integral portions of the territory
of the mandate country.
In making it's claim for the open door
in all mandate territories, the Ameri-
can government is understood to have
in mind the providing of sufficient
safeguards for American missionaries
as well as American business men. In
the case of "B" mandates, concerning
only Central Africa, and SC'' mandates,
relating to the Pacific islands, the
American note is said to admit of no
question as to the right of equality of
opportunity. In regard to the "a"
mandates as involving Turkey, the note
is understood to make an appeal to the
sense of fairness of the powers in ap-
plying to the former Turkish-owned
territory the same principles of equal
fty of opportunity.