The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-02-23
ENGLAND GETS
ROAD TO INDIA
Changes Made in Yer.
saiIles Treaty to Give
British Empire Con-
troll of All Land
Route to India

Washington, Feb. 20 (Dy t. Asso-
ciated Press The complete text of
the Franco-British convention by
which the Syrian desert is trans
rcrrcd from Il French 10 Il British
mandate was received today by oili-
ciais here and is expected to On
cage the close attention OF officials
Of tie state department in connection
with the general study of the allied
mandates with which the American
government for some time has been
concerned.
The pact as concluded between the
French and British governments in
Paris, December 23, contains prCvi-
SiUns for the complete ttlcmcnt OF
che problems raised by the attr.-
)utiOn 10 Great Britain of che man
dates for Palestine and McsOpOtamia
ana by the attribution to France OF
the mandate oyer Syria and the Leb-
anon, all three conferred by the Su-
prcme council at san Reno.
The two phases Of the treaty which
have engaged the particular atten-
Jion of American officials are the
establishment for the first time Of
che precedent of a transfer Of man
date territory from one power to an
other by mutual agreement without
reference TO the league OF nations
and the acquisition by Great Britain
Of her long cherished dream Of an all
rail route from the Mediterranean
90 India through territory under ner
exclusive political or military con-
troll.
In the settlement Of the boundaries
of the mandate territories the south
ern portion Of Syria bordering upon
4rticstin", previously allotted 10
France by the league Of nations, is
transferred to Great Britain and spe-
citic provision is. made for the con-
'tructiOn of British railway line
linking Palestine with the MesopO-
tamian railway systems through the
! syrian desert.
Section 3, Article ,, Of the treaty
! provides that the "trcnch govern
ment consents to the nomination OF
| i special commission which, after
| having examined the ground, may
rcadjust the fronticf>Tine in the val
.oy OF tn" larmuk as far as NASH
IN such manner as TO render posi-
/ BE the construction of a British rail
/ Nay and pipe line connecting Palcs-
| inc with the Iedjaz railway and tie
,ailcy Of the Euphratcs, and running
! .nt!rc'y within the limits OF the
areas under the British mandate.
| Part OF the British all rail- route
! from India to the M,diturrancan. ac-
! corGinS to adNiccs received in otiicia.
circles recently, Wa begun secretly
during the war and has been COM
/ plctcd from Quota in northern India
to point in central Persia slntme
/ he AfghaniStan border. The r;ii-
road from Palestine would cross The
| syrian desert and passing through
!5aSra in southern MrsopOtania would
! effect Il junction with the line already
completed from India at point in
southern Persia. With the transfer Of
.outhcrn S!Iia from France to Great
| Britain, according 10 officials, only
he southern Persian link would be
| left outside political control OF Great
! Fritain and even this link is now
partially under her political control
and wholly under British military
control.
y Is believed by officials here that
IN account Of the uncertainty of the
Turkish settlement and the POSSIBLE
~ OF the passing Of control of Con-
stanstinOplc from Great Britain. plans
for the linking OF the projected Ned
lt"rrane2n 10 India railway route
with that part OF the Berlin to Pag-
dad system from ConstantinopIc
south. Will be deferred until the Near
,,;t