The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-09-10
Mandate Question
Fully Discussed
About Oil in Mesopotamia and
Island of Yap-United
States Wants Equal
Treatment

sition of the American govern
ment on the question of mandates
has been set forth more complete
ly than heretofore and especially IN
reference to those of class AZ and
''B" in a new note TO Great Britain,
France, Italy and Japan, and
through some of them, it is under
stood, has been submitted to the
meeting of the assembly of the
league of nations at Geneva for
consideration.
Announcement was made at the
state department today that the
note was dispatched last week but
no intination was given as to when
it would be made public, if at all.
Although officials would not dis
cuss the matter, it is understood
that the note was forwarded after
inquiries had been received from
some of powers as to the Amer
lean attitude toward the "a and
-.H" mandates for their guidance
in possibly considering the allot-
ment of some of the former enc
my territory at the Geneva meet
ing.
AS early as May 19, 1920, the
American government had taken a
strong stand against the setting up
of any special privileges in man
date territories, especially as in
volving the oil lands Of Meoopo-
tamia and the cable privileges of
the Pacific island of zap, the lat
ter claimed as a "C' mandate by
Japan. In a note Of February q,
last, Secretary Colby gave explicit
warning that the approval Of the
United States was necessary to val
idate any mandate, sanction
which he contended had never
been given III the case Of zap. In
subsequent notes by Secretary
Hughes this position was strength
ened, the proposition being laid
down that Notwithstanding her re-
fusal to ratify the Versailles treaty
the United States as a victor in the
war could not be deprived of a full
and equal voice in the disposition
Of all former German-owned terri
tory.
In this most recent note Secre-
tary Hughes is understood to de-
clare for equality of treatment of
all nations and persons in trade
and residence and concessions in
all mandate territories. Not respect
ing the claim to any particular
class such as Mesopotamia or Yap,
but applying it to the three class
es-'AA" embracing those like form
er Turkish territory which can be
Professionally recognized as inde-
pendent: "B" including those like
Central Africa to be administered
Under conditions providing equal
opportunities for trade; and &C"
those like Southwest Africa and
the Southern Pacific islands to be
administered as integral portions
of the territory of the mandate
country.
In making it's claim for the open
door in all mandate territories the
American government is under
stood to have in mind the provid-
ing of sufficient safeguards for
American missionaries as we'll as
American business. In the case of
"B'' mandates concerning only
Central Africa and "C'' mandates
relating to the former German Pa
cific islands the American note is
said to admit of no question as to
the right of equality of opportun-
ity. In regard to the question IA
mandates as involving Turkey, with
which the United States was not
technically at war, the note is un-
dcrstood to make an appeal to the
sense of fairness of the powers IN
applying to former TurkiSh-ow
territory the same principles of
equality of opportunity.