Evening star., 1921-02-22
MANDAT|VE RIGHTS
|NS|STEDONb BY US.
INN0TE T0LEAGUE
Council to Get Views Ex-
pressed by Colby in Com
munication to Curz0n.
GEDDES THOUGHT TO HAVE
BROUGHT BACK MESSAGE
First Word Direct to League De-
clares America Stands on Part in
War to Demand Privileges.

BY the Associated Press.
The American government has pre-
scnted directly to the council of the
league of nations it's demand that all
allied and associated nations be given
equal opportunities in mandate ter
ritOrieS.
1t was announced today at the State
Department that note virtually
identical with the one on this sub
ject sent to the British government
last November had been dispatched
to the council, which is in session at
Paris. Decision to act in this queS-
ton, Notwithstanding the early
change Of administrations. was pred
icated upon the understanding that
the council contemplated immediate
action on mandates such as those in
Mesopotamia and Palestine.
British Preparing Answer.
While no reply has been received from
Great Britain. it has been unofiicially
stated that the British government was
preparing an answer that would go far
toward satisfying the American conten-
tions that equal opportunities must be
provided for the citizens of all countries
in all mandate territories 1t has been
suggested that Sir Auckland Geddcs, who
returned to the United States yesterday.
after consultation with the foreign office
vey the ideas of his government on the
subject Officials of the department de-
clined to say from what quarter the in
timation came that the question should
be taken directly to the league but it
was believed it came from Great Britain,
and that the returning British ambassa-
dor bore the message.
First Direct Word to League.
Communications have been received
by the department from the council and
certain amount of correspondence has
followed, but this is the first time the
United States initiated any action be-
fore that body. Officials insisted that il
was not to be taken as an indication
that the United States was to become
but rather as manifestation Of the de-
termination of tie United States to in
siSt upon its rights even though ii is not
a member of the league.
In his note to Lord Curzon. Secretary
Colby said the United States did not
propose to be excluded from participa-
tion in the rights and privileges secured
under mandates provided in the treaties
of peace. and it expected to be heard
regarding the terms of those mandates
before they were put into force.
In Reply to Britain.
This note was in reply to one from
Great Britain under date Of last Au-
>
plication of the principles of equal
ity of treatment to the territories Of
the near east to be placed under Brit
ish mandate. The American govern
ment took issue with what was de-
scribed. as the British position that
mandate agreements and treaties
were to be considered only by states
members of the league of -ations
Mr.. Colby said that the United
States. as participant of the world
war "and contributor to it's success
full issue. cannot consider any of the
associated powers. the smallest not
less than itself debarred from dis
cussion of any of it's consequences, or
from participation in the rights and
privileges under the mandates pro-
vided in the treaties of peace"