The New York herald., 1922-03-19
AMERICAN GRANTS In
/ ASIA STIR ITALIANS
Two Reported Railway Conces-
sions by Turks Arouse
Their Opposition.
HAVE PLANS IN ANATOLIA
Steamship Company to Run
I Trucking Line From An
CORA to Black Sea.

?
Special Cable to THE New York HERALD.
Copyright, 1923, by THE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Rome, March rs.
Certain italian industrial circles are
worrying over reports that further con-
cessions have been granted TO American
groups In Asia Minor by the Turkish
by the Ansaldo metal interests. shows
especial concern for Italian interests
owing to this new factor In Asia Minor.
The Mcssagero tells of two important
railway concessions granted to Ameri-
cans and says building will begin in
the near future.
The first road is from SamsunN to
Sivas and Erzerum and thence to the
Persian border. This route is an old
caravan trail originally picked for the
Bagdad Railway. The French built some
eighty miles OF roadbed, but the Russians
later objected and obliged the Germans
TO pick q more southerly route outside of
tho Russian path toward Constantinopie.
This route will open the Erzerum oil
fields. which are rich and d-untouched, to
American exploitation. ,
To Link with Persian Lines.
The other line which Americans are
reported to intend building is supposed
TO be from Alexandretta TO Marash and
thence also toward the Persian border.
This line will border on the Italian zone
or influence. The MessGgcro's Constan-
tinople correspondent also reports that
Americans have obtained concessions in
Persia for railroad construction and for
a.. ,s..I 4. II xA.,t
Italian ultra nationalist and indus
trial groups regard negotiations and
concessions other than theirs with the
Turkish Government as a further mem
ace to the tripartite agreement. which
gave Italy specific zone of economic
penetration. This agreement with the
Turks is particularly resented. The
Messdgero is taking the lead In this
alarmist campaign and urges the Italian
Government to cling to the tripartite
barrier policy, but fails to suggest what
groups other than Americans are better
qualified to undertake railroad construc-
tion and other similar enterprises.
Subject for Genoa.
Italy's participation in the Near East
crn conference to be held In Paris, COM
bined with the anxiety of influential fac
tors over the French political activity in
Angora, and the ventures of American
concessionnaires in territories adjacent
TO Italy's asserted zone Of influence.
makes the discussion of Italy's Near
Eastern policy of immediate significance.
Several Italian statesmen and finan-
ciers admitted that Italy is ready 70 sac
rifice all political prestige implied in the
tripartite agreemnt with France and
Great Britain in exchange for economic
1ant m,
by those nations. This conflicts with the
present British policy, which definitely
repudiateS the trtpartite agreement. The
French also are inclined to sponge over
that agreement, provided they can mair-
tain their share of control over Ottoman
public debts.
The French, especially, they say. cam
not invoke tho tripartite agreement, ow-
ing to their treaty with the Angora. Gov
ernnent, which is in direct conflict there
with. This threatens to leave Italy iso-
lated.
Contrary 20 the past diplomatic tra-
dition, Italy has pursued an active ex-
pansionist policy in the Near East dur
ing the last decade. Hoping to assure
herself OF a zone of influence in Asia
Minor, she has conducted numerous ne
gotiations since 1915, all of which have
failed. Italy, too, has followed the
French example of seeking a separate
treaty with Angora- The text of such an
instrument was drawn up, but the An
CORA Parliament refused to ratify it.
This was explained by the fact that the
treaty contained alleged demands equiv
alent to those comprised in the tripartite
agreement.
The Turks are particularly hostile to
this tripartite understanding in so far
sAxyix.I
had troops stationed in her zone, and
had intended economic penetration until
last year, when the troops were with
drawn because they were only a hand
ful, insufficient to meet q Turkish at
tack, yet sufficient 20 provoke friction.
Although I'm need Of capital, the Italians
have been active in economic expansion
In Anatola-
Trucking Line for Augora. y
There are the Italian Commerce Asso-
cation. with headquarters in Florence,
attempting to boom the development of
Anatolian resources and two Italian
steamship lines touching Anatolian ports,
where Italy Is interested. The Trieste
Lloyd line has concluded it's first trans
port concession by the Angora Govern
ment for trucking service between An
CORA and Black Sea ports. The Greeks
and the Armenians have a trade mon
opoly there. but the Italians hope to de-
velop the district agriculturally
The Italians seek to offset their politi-
cal and military infcriority to the
French and British in Asia Minor by
means OF conciliatory political policy.
They hope the Turks will share In italian
enterprises and they seek also to attract
foreign capital for the development OF
Anatolian mines and water power.
Carlo Schanzer, the Italian Foreign
Minister. In the Introduction to a trade
prospectus. recently defined the attitude
OF Italian interests In Anatolia thus
Our economic penetration into Asia
Minor Is an essential factor OF our eco
nomic reconstruction. This outlet Is
Asia Minor. FOR Italy's surplus energy
VIII be the dominant element in the
maintenance OF European peace"
Italy's foreign policy In regard to Asia
Minor Is somewhat similar TO. that OF the
broker who seeks commission for pro-
noting big enterprises. both political and
economic. For example. Italy would
favor the Turks at the expense OF tho
Greeks in Thrace, while she would be in
clincd to favor the Greeks in their desire
TO keep n foothoid in Smyrna. Italians
generally arc Turcophles, regarding