New-York tribune., 1921-04-19
u. S. to Fight
For Oil Worth
$5OO,000,000
Hughes Confers With Adj
sniral Chester OH Con
cession in Mesopotamia
Obtained Before War
Exploitation of Valuable
Field Menaced by Man
date Program of Allies
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON. April 1e.--Oil-
$500, 100000 worth of it in Mesopotamia
belonging to this government since
before the war--was the subject of q
conference to-day by Secretary Hughes
and Rear Admiral Colby M. Chester.
Tremendous Importance is attached to
the conference tonight by official and
diplomatic Washington.
Admiral Chester is the man who was
sent by Theodore Roosevelt, when
President, to Asia Minor to arrange
Tor American oil concessions. He final
ly wrung from the Young Turks a con-
cesslon in which the oil alone, exclu-
slve or other minerals, is estimated
conservatively to be worth half a bill
lion dollars.A This concession, obtained
TOR the American government, was
about to be opened up, the Admiral
told Secretary Hughes, when the war
In Europe prevented it,
But now this old concession fits right
IN with the vigorous claims which the
Harding administration has been max
ing to Great Britain, France, Italy and
Japan with regard to American rights
In mandate territories, and particular
ly, SO far as Mesopotamia is concerned.
with regard to the maintenance Of an
open-door policy.
Colby Sent First Protest
Assured by Republican leaders Of
ardent support, Secretary Of State
Colby took the first step in demanding
American rights in Mesopotamia. pro-
testing against the intention Of the
British and French to exclude nation
ais OF other countries from the oppor-
tunlties to develop the tremendously
rlcn natural resources of the country
r, More than year ago Herbert
Hoover told friends at dinner that in
attempting to give the United States a
mandate over Armenia the Allies were
handing this country a poorhouse sur
rounded BY three treasure houses. One
OF these treasure houses is the Meso-
potamlan oil field, from which Ameri-
cans would be excluded unless the pro-
tests just made by this government
are needed. Hence the interest attach
ing IN to-day to the conference between
Secretary Hughes and Admiral Ches-
ter, at which Clarence Chester. son Of
the admiral and thoroughly conversant
WIN the situation. was present,
The concessions obtained by the ad-
mlral for this country include not onlv
this half billion dollar oil field but
the right to build pipe line and rail-
road over the 'cross-country stretch of
about sixty miles separating the oil
lands from the Mediterranean Sea. The
whole cost Of the pipe line and rail-
road, the admiral told Mr.. Hughes.
would be from $50,Oo0,000 to s60,-
100000. The admiral is sure that
there will be incidental benefits moro
than equaling the cost of the railroad
and pipe line.
British Claim Antedated
The most important difficulty. in the
opinion Of the admiral, is the counter
British claim for this oil concession,
but he assured Secretary Hughes that
he could show the American claim
antedated the British by not less than
three years. 1t developed also that the
cation with British interests and had
developed the case to point, it is
said; where the British are ready to
concede that there is considerable
merit in the American contention and
may be willing to compromise.
Just what steps Secretary Hughes
will take depend largely, it is thought,
on the development of the larger as
poets of the mandate situation. He is
anxious for a decision from Great
Britain, France, Italy and Japan on
S.
which could never have been stripped
from the central powers for distribu-
ton among the Allies had it not been
Tor American participation in the war.
President Harding is firmly of the opin-
ion that, while America does not want
to gain an acre of land as a result of
the war, certainly this government does
not want to sit by and see opportunities 3
which Americans have had in the pre-
u al, -.
nationals of the countries which thi.
country helped to save.
Exploitation Halted by War
In the case discussed by Mr.. Hughes
ana Admiral Chester to-day American
enterprise, inspired by Theodore
Roosevelt, had gained for this com
try's navy and merchant marine an
enormously valuable supply of oil. Had
the European war not occurred thot
development probably would long since
nave been completed. But the action
of the United States in helping Britain
ana France win the war had transferred
control of the country in which +h;.
oil concession lies to them, whereunon
hey have sought to prevent American
exploitation of the concession.
The case is also Of interest because
81 the tremendous drive being made
~ the Administrarlon in ali direc-
IONS n; TOR OIL NO concealment is made
If the fact that the driving motive ha'
and Secretary of the Interior Fall,s
nsistence on ratification of the Co.
ombian treaty is a determination 10
make possible American development
u the oil resources there. The desire
n this instance is so strong that the
ADMINISTRATION has been willing to re-
'erse the Republican position In Con-
sress during the eight years Of thc
Wilson Administrator. s''e
Radio to Link Italy and u. S.