Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-07
OPEN DOOR IN
ALL MANDATE
TERRITORIES
U. S. Claim in New
Note Sent to Allied
Nations
Declares for Equal Treatment
of All Nations and Persons in
Trade and Residence and
Concessions in Mandate Ter.
ritories-Against All Special
Privileges

Washington, Sept. 6.-The position
of the United States government on
the question of mandates has been
set forth more completely than here
tofore and especially in reference to
those of Glass "A" and "B" in a new
note to Great Britain, France. Italy
and Japan and through some of them.
it is understood, has been submitted
! to the meeting of the assembly of the
League of Nations at Geneva for con-
Sideration.
state department today that the note
was dispatched last week but no in
timation was given as to when it
would be made public, il at all.
Although officials would not discuss
the matter, it is understood that the
note was forwarded after inquiries
had been received from some of the
powers as to the American attitude
toward the "A" and b. mandates for
their guidance in possibly considering
the allotment of the former enemy"
| AS early as May -. 1920, the Amer
! lean government had taken strong
stand against the setting up of any
special privileges in mandate territor-
1 les especially as%involving the oil
lands of Mesopotamia and the cable
privileges of the Pacific island of zap,
the latter Claimed as a "A" mandate
by Japan in a note sent last February,
Secretary Colby gave explicit warn
ing that the approval of the United
States was necessary to validate any
mandat e a sanction which he con-
tended had never been given in the
case of zap. In subsequent notes by
Secretary Hughes this position was
strengthened, the proposition being
laid down that notwithstanding her
refusal to ratify the Versailles treaty
the United States as victor in the
war could not be deprived of a full
and equal voice in the disposition of
all former owned German territories.
In this most recent note Secretary
Hughes is understood to declare for
equality of treatment of all nations
and persons in trade and residence
and concessions in all mandate terri
tories, not restricting the claim to any
particular class such as Mesopotamia
or zap, but applying it to the three
classes-"A" embracing those like
former Turkish territory which can
be Professionally recognized as indie
pendent; "B" including those like
Central Africa to be administered I'M
der conditions providing equal oppor-
tunities 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 its claim for the open
door in all mandate territories the
America government is understood to
have in mind the providing of suffi-
cient safeguards for American mis-
sionaries as we'll as American bus
mess men. Ia the case of "B" man
dates concerning only central Africa
and "A" mandates relating to the for
mer German Pacific islands the
American note is said to admit of no
question as to the right of equality of
opportunity. In regard to the "a"
mandates as involving Turkeys with
which the United States was not
technically at war, the note is under
stood to make an appeal to the sense
of fairness of the powers in applying
to former Turkish owned territory
the same principles of equality of OPP
portunity.