Middletown transcript., 1922-12-02
j. S. DEMAND
FOR OPEN DOOR
Policy in Turkey Gives Jolt To
Big Three
HIT. SECRET TIRE EATlE S
Japan And All Smaller Nations Re-
joice That Powerful Nation
Stand Against Grab Game.

Stdnu against STdp 0dfUCs
Lausanne. - America gave Great
Britain, France and Italy hard jolt
when her spokesman, Richard Wash
burn Child, declared that the United
States Government has the support
of the American public in it's opposi-
tion to all secret treaties and agree
ments, particularly those designed to
create zones of economic and com
mercial influence, such as the San
Reno tri-partite agreement of 1920,
which apportioned the Mesopotamian
oil fields among the three big Powers.
Mr.. Child's exposition was merely
restatement of Secretary of State
Hughes aide-memoire of October so,
in which he defined for the benefit
of the British, French and Italian Gov
ernments the functions of the Ameri-
can observers to the Lausanne Con
ference and broadly outlined Amer
ica's open-door policy for the Near
East-but it was a restatement under
conditions that made it sensational.
1t came as the conference was about
to begin consideration of Turkeys
warning that America will not remain
silent if the three inviting Powers in
sist upon preferential rights in oil,
mineral, railway and power develop
ment in present Turkish territory, or
in that which was topped off by the
war.
The Turkish delegates had already
made clear that they would insist
upon their country sharing in the
Mosul petroleum field of Mesopotamia,
which the three inviting Powers have
reserved for themselves; consequently
it was not displeasing to the Turks for
the United States to go on record
against the San Reno agreement.
1t was not possible for the delegates
of the inviting Powers to conceal their
impatience at Americas insistent
reiteration of her policy, which they
resent especially because of her re
fusal to accept a vote in the confer
ence. to sign any report or to accept
any responsibility further than to act
as an adviser.
The American observers, it was re
marked, are dipping into the Lau
same Conference and displaying {
disposition to enunciate the American
policy, which is quite unlike theil
retiring attitude at previous Euro
pean conferences and which is caus
ing much surprise among the othel
delegations.
The new American attitude, how
ever is affording great satisfaction
to the neutral countries represented
here. Apparently authenticated re
ports that Italy is making her SUP
port of the Franco-British position ol
German reparations dependent upol
her receipts of commercial oppOrtun
ties equally those of France and Grea
the neutrals that the American pre-
nouncement of today was justified an
timely.
Japan's position on the open door i
the Near East is practically the sam
as that of the United States, and a
handed care for their. own rights r,
joiced that a powerful spokesman ha
taken the stand to assure free trad
in the Levant.
Ambassador Child was seeking t
make this plain in his statement to tn
Conference.
The United States has specificall
disclaimed any desire for specii
treatment in the Near East. On th
contrary, the chief desire of the Was
ington Government in connection wit
the Lausanne proceedings is known
be that the Christian countries shoul
stand united to maintain in substanc
the capitulations in Turkey whie
safeguard the nationals of Christia
States who might otherwise be su
ject to Moslem laws and customs. 81
the possibility must be faced by Il
American observer that other STATE
which enjoy or seek to obtain speci
commission considerations in Turks
territory might be willing to foret
certain of their rights under the ca
itulations in lieu of commercial co
cessions which could be of no vail
to American nationals. Such actio
ratified by the forthcoming Lausanl
treaty to which the United States W
not be signatory. would render Il
subsequent negotiation of. satisfa
tory treaty of amity with Turkey mo
difficult for the Washington Cover
ment.