South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-07
AMERICA DEMANDS
MANDATE EQUALITY
IN LATEST ANSWER
Sec'y Hughes Explains Posi-
ton in Message to Allied
Officials.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 6.-The po-
sition Of the American government
on the question OF mandates has
been set forth more completely than
heretofore and especially In refer
ence to those Of class A and B, in
a new note 10 Great Britain. France.
Italy and Japan. Through some OF
the four countries. it is understood.
the governments attitude has been
submitted TO the meeting OF the as
sembly Of the League Of Nations at
Geneva for consideration.
Announcement was made at the
state department Tuesday that the
note was dispatched last week, but
no intimation was given as 10 when
il would be made public, II at all.
Although officials would not dis
cuss the matter, it is understood that
the note was forwarded after in
quiries had been received from some
of the powers as 10 the American
attitude toward the "A" and "B"
mandates for their guidance in pos
sibly considering the allotment Of
some Of the former enemy territory
at the Geneva meeting.
Wants Mandates Classified.
In this most recent note, Sec'y
b Hughes is understood TO declare for
equality Of treatment OF all nations
"a and persons in trade and concessions
in all mandate territories, not re-
stricting the claim TO any particular
class. such as Mesopotamia or zap,
/ but applying it 10 the three classes
"A" embraces those like former
Turkish territory which can be pro-
visionauy recognized as independent;
\ "B" includes those like central At
RIGA. 10 be administered under con-
/ ditions providing equal opportunities
for trade. and &C" those like south
west Africa and the southern Pa
Icifc islands. 10 be administered as
Integral portions OF the territory Of
itne mandate country.
To Safeguard Americans.
In making its claim for the open
door in all mandate territories. the
/ American government is understood
Ito have in mind the providing Of
sufficient safeguards for American
missionaries as we'll as American
/ business men. In the case OF ''B''
, mandates concerning only central
Africa and "A" mandates relating
to the former German Paoific is
lands. the American note is said 20
admit of no question as 10 the right
of equality of opportunity.
/ To regard TO the "A mandates as
F involving Turkey. with which the
I United States was not TECHNICALLY at
war. the note is understood 10 nake
Ian appeal TO the sense o. fairness
\ If the powers in applying 20 former
f Turkish-owned territory the same
principles OF equality of opportunity.
Follows Wilson's Policy.
As early as May Il. 1920, the
i American government had taken a
strons stand against the setting up
of any special privileges in mandate
/ territories. especially as involving the
. oil lands Of Mesopotamia and the ca
BILE privileges of the Pacific island
Of Yap. the latter claimed as &C.
mandate by Japan.
In a note OF February FL last,
Sec'y Colby gave explicit warning
that the approval OF the United
states was necessary to validate any
mandate. a sanction which he con-
tended had never been given in the
case of Zap.
! In subsequent notes by Sec'y
Hughes this position was strength
ened. the proposition being laid down
that notwithstanding her refusal TO
|ratify the Versailles treaty the
United States as a victor in the w1r
could not be deprived Of full and
equal voice IN the disposition OF all
former German owned territories.