The New York herald., 1921-02-21
Washington Sees Precedent
in Transfer Without Ref
erence to League of
Nations.
ALL-RAIL INDIA ROUTE
Britain Gains Cherished
Dream of Link From the
Mediterranean to Asian
Empire.
PIPE LINE TO EUPHRATES
Route Made Possible for the
MesopOtamian Oil Reach
ing Basra on Persian
Gulf.
PIPE LINE TO EUPHRATES
BIZ the Associatcd Press.


WASHINGTON, Feb 20.-The complete
text of the Franco British convention
by which the Syrian Desert is trans
ferred from a French to a British
mandate was received to-day in off,
cial circles here and is expected to en-
gage the close attention of officials Of
the 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 provi-
sions for the complete settlement of
the problems raised by the attribu-
tion to Great Britain of the mandates
for Palestine and Mesopotamia and
by the attribution to France of the
mandate over Syria and the Lebanon,
all three conferred by the Supreme
Council at San Reno"
Two Phases Noted.
The two phases of the treaty which
have engaged the particular attention
of American officials are the establish
ment for the first time of the prece-
dent of transfer of mandate territory
from one Power TO another 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 TO India through terri
tory under her exclusive political or
military control.
In the settlement Of the boundaries Of
the mandate territories. the southern
portion of Syria bordering upon Pales-
tine, previously allotted to France by the
League of Nations, Is transferred 10
Great Britain and specific provision Is
made for the construction of a British
railway line linking Palestine with the
Mesopotamian Railway systems through
the Syrian desert.
Section three. article Ave, of the
treaty provides that the French Gov
ernment consents to the nomination OF
special commission, which, after hav-
ing examined the ground may readjust
the frontier line in the valley of the Var
muk as far as Nash in such a manner
as to render possible the construction
Of British railway and pipe line con-
Meeting Palestine with the Hedjaz rail-
way and the Valley OF the Euphrates,
and running entirely within the limits
Of the areas under the British mandate"
Railway 20 India.
Part of the British all rail route from
India to the Mediterranean, according
To advices received in official circles re-
Gently, was begun secretly during the
war and has been completed from Quet-
Ia In northern India TO point in CEN
tral Persia skrting the Afghanistan
border. The rail route from Palestine
would cross the Syrian desert and pass
ing through Basra in southern Mesopo-
tamia would effect junction with the
line already completed from India at
point in southern Persia.
With the transfer OF southern Syria
from France to Great Britain. accord
ing to officials. only the southern Per-
sian link would he left outside political
control of Great Britain and ever this
link is now partially under her political
control and wholly under British mill
tary control.
1t Is believed by officials here that on
account OF the uncertainty OF the Turk
ish settlement and the possibility Of the
passing OF control OF Constantinople
from Great Britain, plans FOR the link
ing OF the projected Mediterranean TO
india railway route with that part OF
the Berlin to Bagdad system from Con-
stantinople south. will be deferred until
the Near Eastern situation becomes less