Evening star., 1921-03-09
Editorial Digest
Mandates and American Rights.

was long ago Interpreted in Europe
! 'as a convenient euphemism for an
neXation. to quote the Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle republican,
| the American press stands sq0arely
behind the State Department pro-
nouncement that the United States
Will sacrifice none OF its rights in ter
rltory which by virtue of an allied
victory has been taken over by our
former comrades in arms. Most
writers pay high tribute to the Colby
note on mandates which the Spring
Held tMoD Leader (democratic) thinks
"upholds the best traditions of Amer
lean displomacy and craftsmanship.
America has rights which are to
be insisted upon even at the risk of
straininG some diplomatic friend
ships, the Pittsburgh Leader (pro-
gr.sSive republican, believes, and in
this case they are the rights of inter
national law, according to the Peters
burg tNa) Index Appeal Gndepend-
entD, and We're not conferred by the
treaty but by the 'jusEentium' far
older than any treaty existing today"
The Kansas City Journal trepublican)
says: No peace treaty, regardless of
who are parties to it, can abroSate
or infringe upon the fundamental
rights OF any nation"
The Omaha News (independent
thinks America has a right to invest
where she pleases and enjoy the re-
turns from the production she en-
courages: The United States denies
to no European citizens the right of
investing in the development of this
country and reaping the reward that
comes from judicious investments.
America wants only to invest money
in pioneer development. without eX-
emption from risks inherent in ali
such exploitation"
The question of this country's pres
ence or absence at the league council
table has nothing to do with the
question in the opinion of the Nor
folk Firginian-Pilot tdemoCratic). In
the case of Mesopotamia. limiting ex-
ploitation of the economic resources
there to the nationals of league
members" is, it believes. "directIy in
violation of the governments provi-
sion respecting mandates. IL breach
of expressed and implied agreements
at Paris that nations exercising man
dates should not enjoy any special
privileges in the exploitation of such
districts. and in contravention of the
plain principles of right that are in
dependent of covenants and agree
mentS'
Irrespective of the league, says the
Lynchburg News (democratic), the
United States won the right to be
consulted in the disposition of the
fruits of victory by participating as
leading power in establishing that
victory.
The Baltimore News Gndependcnt)
points out that the question of
awarding mandates was matter for
the supreme council. of which we
were member. and Americas $ pro-
test was registered when the ~C'
mandates were ratified
The rights we have under this
category. the Norfolk Ledger Dis
patch independent democraD de-
clares. without question we shall
continue. league or no league: and
it significantly adds. European chan
cellories used to speak of our shirt
Sleeved diplomacy But at least in
these days they do not sneer at our
shirt-sleeved action
That the attitude of the powers con-
cerning the territories over which
they hold mandates is not simply
legal problem in the opinion of many
writer's is made plain by the COM
ments upon the moral side. Ex-Sec-
retary Colby's note. declares the De-
troit News independently, may serve
as warning that there is still
watchful world which. however much
it may stand aloof while others as
sumo executive authority. is minded
TO CeSlTe an dCCOuhiiH6 "a AaN
tional conduct"
The United States is Shocked" the
Minneapolis Tribune republican, be-
lieves to discover that some OF the
powers, notably Britain and Japan.
had no idea of living up to their
agreements" and America now rs
nghting to prevent the world from
going back to the discredited habit
Of annexation and exploitation" This
country simply wants justice and
equality to be obtained in such coun-
tries as will be put under mandatory
rule" says the Dayton News (demo-
craticl. rather than permit them to
be ruled as the Fort Wayne Journal
Gazette (democratic) puts it. under
an Interpretation "manifestly untrue
and ''pecuIiarly repugnant" which
lesser degree have placed them.
This Franco-British convention"
is a step backward" in the opinion
of the Hartford Times (democratic).
for the question of mandates lis
whether there shall be an open-door
policy or a policy Of preference TO
the nationals of mandatores and
sists upon the open door"
One of the few newspapers to
question the American policy. as ini-
tiated by Mr.. Colby. is the Boston
Transcript Gndepende dent-republican),
which thinks that the former Secre-
tary greatly weakened the position
of the United States. for, by re-
questins the communication of the
councils intention to the United
States government before it acts on
matters before it he seeks to com
nit our government to the action of
the council exactly as If we were
a member Of that body"