Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-23
SECRETARY COLBY PUTS
THE LEAGUE TO THE TEST
" It Ignores His Protest on the Meso.
potsmIan Mandate Its Loyalty TO
the Principles OF Equity win
Be in Doubt

its failure 20 enter that league
There Hr" certain principles for " hich
the lnitcd States has cnntrndcd which this
nation cannot consent shall be invaldatrd
by the concerted action of any group OF other
nations
II is TO defend those principles TINT Sec
retary Colby has sent note 20 the league
council now in session in Paris The note
is described az virtually identical with the
note which be sent to Lord Curzon, the
british foreign secretary, last November,
asking that a copy of the Mcsopotamian
mandate b. submitted to the United StatrS.
The British Government did not answer that
note, but suggested that the proper pro-
redurr was for this government ~ deal
directly with the league.
l. will be recalled that the November note
protested against the currently reported
intention to limit the rights of outside ma
tion> in Mcsopotamin.
Whether the United States be member
Of the league or not, that protest is justified
II IS in accordance with the historic policy
Of the United States to insist on the open
door in all undeveloped and scmcivlized
countries. John Hay fought for il in China
and secured its acceptance. and thereby
postponed If he did not prevent altogether
n" threatened diSmembrrment of that en-
pirc.
1t was because Of it's belief in III" open
door .hat the United states. through its
representatives., fought for il in the Peace
Conference. Mr.. Colby in his note calls
attention % This when he says. Il need
hardly refer again TO the fact that the gov
ornment OF the United States has consistently
urged that it is Of the utmost Importance to
the future peac" Of the world that alien ter
ritory transferred as result of the war
with the central powers should be held and
administered in such way as to assure
equal treatment to the commerce and TO the
citizens Of all nations.
lie refuses here TO admit that the man.
date section Of the league covenant cx-
cludeS any nation from equal rights in tho
territory under mandate. even though that
section SAYS that such territory should be
administered as to secure equal oppor-
tUnitirs for trade and commerce of other
members of the league.
To admit that group Of natious can
m0nopo'i-c for their OrR benefit certain ter.
ritorp ,rhich doe, not bc'Or1 10 them 10 the
exclusion of al otter nations ,copd be to
prepare the 'rdy for t,Co or three pO,ccrtW
nations 10 make q combination 10 mouopoIi:e
hP uudcrslopcd resourcCS Of the trorld
So Secretary Colby, in protesting against
the rumorPd plan TO monopoii2e the resources
Of Mesopotamn, is speaking for all the little
lions as well as asserting q fundamental
principle of international relations which
must be- respected IL tho very purpose OF tho
League Of Nations 20 discourag" war is not
to be vtiat"d.
After laying down m" genera. prin,lple
Mr.. Colby insisted that the United States
has specific rights in the premises. The
allied and associated nations have no tights
over the territory to b" subjected to mandate
save Rs they grew out OF the way. Consc-
Quent,v the United States, as a participant
in that conflict and as contributor TO it's
successful issue. ''cannot,' Says Mr.. Colby.
consider any of the associated powers, tho
smallest not less than itself, debarrpd from
the dScIssion Of any Of is consequences or
from participation in the rights and privi
e3ps secured under the mandates provided
for in the treaty Of peace
Mr. Colby's argument in bri"t is that the
rights Of the United States and Of every
other nation must be respected under tho
general principle Of the open door, which il
vas understood was 20 be guaran antred By the
nations taking over territory under mandate.
and that the United States and every other
nation which participated in securing III"
victory over the ceptra, powers hav" II
special rigut 70 be heard when the manner
of government Of the mandat0d territory j.
% BE- fixed. These latter rights grow out ~
tue participation Of III" nations in the Wa
md ARE not dependent on any agreement into
which part o; the nations may have "I.
torDd IN short, thr failur" Of the nitrd
States - enter the League ot Nations docs
not mean that II has forfeited any q! it,
tights 70 be consulted. Thos" rights grow
IN part ont of itS participation in III" wa-
and a"c not d"oond~nt ou any treaty ugr"c-
men's.