The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-04-05
BRITISH NOTE
HITS MANDATE
THE0RYOF us.
Attitude as Expressed
by Colby Called
Inconsistent.

LONDON, April S.--American
contentious for equality of treatment
Tor the citizena OF an nations IN
mandnted territory are held by the
British government to be scarcely
consistent" with the attitude OF the
United States toward American oil
Interests In Mexico. The British view
Is expressed In a long reply 10 Sec
retary Colby's note OF last Novem-
bcr 20 which was made public here
today.
The note signed by lord Curzon.
secretary Of state for foreign affairs,
was delivered March !. and was In
answer TO Secretary Coiby's cxcep-
tions to the san Reno agreement be-
tween Great Britain and France re-
lating tu petroleum resources In Mos
pothmia. That agreement. Lord Cur
zon said was not fully understood.
Il appeared. adding that Il aimed
at nu monopoly or exclusive rights"
The Mes0pota mian agreement was
said by Lord CurzOn 10 be subject
60 OH concessions In the Nilnycts OF
Iiagdad and Mosul granted 10 British
Interests before the war and not to
be- treated merely as a matter OF
20 pre- war negotiations Rights ac-
quired In Palestine by the standard
OIL company ARE no stronger" than
thcse British rights. the note added
Request Of the American govern
ment that British rights thus acquired
be diaregnrded. Lord Curzon added.
was scarcely consistent" with the
attitude adopted by the United
States IN regard 10 similar United
States Interests In oil properties In
Mexico"
The British note Expresses agree
ment with the American argument
that the worlds oil resources should
be open for development without re-
ference 90 nationullty. but notes that
an act OF the Philippine legislature
In 1890 reserves development OF pub
lie mineral lands there to citlxens of
the United States or the Philippines.
Such legislation cannot but be- re-
garded as Ia contradiction Of the gem
erai principle cnunicatcd by the
United States. " continues
In this connection l observe that
Mr., Colby does not attempt to rcfute
the statement contained In my note OF
| 3th August. last. concerning the ac-
tion taken by the a. =. government
To prevent the exploitation by British
Interests Of such resources In Haiti
ana Costa Rica"
Lord Curzon made reference 20 Sec
| fetary Colhy's "alluEions" as 10 the
/ worlds oil supply and the statement
that the United States possessed only
one twelfth approximately OF world
Oh resources. The question. he said
i was OF "suhsidiary importance" In
tho discussion hut added that while
the potcntiaiitics of the future are
| necessarily problcmatioal the undl-
sputcd fact remains that at present
| United States soil produces 20 pei
cent and American interests In ad
joining territory controls a further II
per cent OF the oil production OF th,
| world"
IT Is not easy. therefore," LORD
| Curzun said. TO justify the United
States government insistonce tina
American control should now be ox
tended to resources which may HI
developed IN inundated territorie
aud that, too. az the expense Of IN,
subjects of another state who hav'
obtained u valid concession from tn
former government OF those terri
tories"