New-York tribune., 1921-04-12
France Is Said
To Accept u. S.
Mandate View
One Reply Received. bu,
State Department With
holds Name of Nation
and Position 1t Takes
Believed To Be Paris
London, in Preliminary Re-
sponse. Suggests Sending
of Envoy ON Oil Dispute


WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Amer
ican note to the Allied governments on
the question of mandates, which laid
down the principle of equality of rights
among the Allied powers associated in
the war. with special reference TO the
island of Yap. has been definitely re-
sponded 10 by one European govern
ment, it was disclosed to-day at the
State Department.
At the same time it became known
5lat Great Britain has informally sug-
sested to this government a solution OF
the controversy ovHr the Mesopotamia
oil question. with view TO reach ing
some agreement Of mutual satisfaction.
The answer IN response to the Yap
note, as well as the name Of the govern
lnent from which it was received. was
withheld by the State Department. pend
ing receipt of authority from the sender
10 make the document public 1t is
generally believed, however, that the
response is from the French Foreign
Oaice. and that it expresses the view
of that government that the american
principle of equality is acceptable.
The decllnatlon of the American
State Department to make known from
what government the reply was re-
ceived is not inconsistent with the
policy adopted by Secretary Hughes at
the outset of the present Administered
ton of agreeing to simultaneous pub
lication of important state papers in
the capitals of the governments in
volved.
France Opposed to Delay
The general belief that the answer
is from tn French government is based
on the knowledge that there exists in
Paris q strong desire to have the
French point of view on the subject OF
mandates made known to the United
States whi former Premier Rene Wv
iani is still in this country. This he
lief also is strengthened by unofficial
reports rom Paris since the dispatch
OF the American note on mandates,
which strongly indicated that the
American government would not find
France unsympathetic to the general
idea Of according this government a
voice in al! questions arising out of
TIE war.
The informal suggestion from the
British government looking to settle
ment OF the dispute over so-called
British oil concessions in former Turk
ish territories is believed to be based
on the knowledge that this government
has information .i.o. Great Britain did
not mplete its negotiations for GER
tain oil rights in Mesopotamia. The
contention that these negotiations
sere started by the British before the
war has been advanced by London as
oYcludIng American interests from
entering that field.
Negotiations Not Closed
According to the information before
Secretary of State Hughes, however,
iae British government did negotiate
tn Turkish interests for the oil
ights in the vilayets of Mosul and
Baedad, but these negotiations did not
result N Great Britain actually ac
cuiling the concessions. There is no
dispute over the fact that negotiations
were started before the war, but the
American State Department records do
Ict show that the proposed deal was
actually ummated.
In suggesting a method Of adjusting
the differences between this govern
nent and Great Britain, the London
Foreign Office has made known TIL t
tne appointment of an American com
Missioner to confer with the British
petroleum commission would be wei
coined and that this method might
develop a speedier way of settling the
dispute than through diplomatic con-
Versatlons.
WASHINGTON, April 11-Great