New-York tribune., 1922-11-30
Hughes Denies
I.aulsanneP Policy
Is an Oil C,ral,
State Department Formally
Refuses implications of
MIR. MorgentIaatf That 1t
Backs Standard Interests
Purposes Humanitarian
Defends Open Door Demand
i'm Near East as Plea for
All American Commerce

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WASHINGTON, Nev. 20 (Sy Taa. AS
kectsted Press) Published attacks
upon f.s position the American Cow
ernrne~t Is taking at the Lausanne con
terence, attributed to Henry Morgen-
than, AE1asssaior TO Turkey under the
Wilson Administration, prompted the
state Department to issue formal
denial to-day aimed rather at the inn
plicationg involved ia. Shs printed 1er-
sion Of Mr.. Morgenthaa's remarks than
at the specific allegations they con-
Sa;ned.
The specific statement involved al
ssges cooperation ef the State Depart
saent with the Standard Oil Company
10 obtain renunciation By the Dutch
Shell Company, British concern. Of a
portion of its interests in Palestine
in favor of the American company.
The departments statement said Mr..
Morgenthau had been either Incorrect
3y quoted or misinformed in this con-
yectton.
tHpHCAtaoh Oe0leu
The general implication read by de-
partment officials into Mr. bforeenthaa's g
remarks was that the American gov
srnment was chiefly concerned at Lau-
Same or elsewhere in obtaining com
saerciai opportunities in the Near East
aor American oil companies, In that
connection the departments statement
said:
"The implication in this (Mr. Nor
genthau's) statement was vigorously
denied by the department.
The only action taken by the depart
snent which could possibly be referred
70 in the published account, the state
snent continued, twas it's mandate notes
aski35g for equal opportunity for Amer
tcan enterprise In mandate territories,
an attitude which this Administration
has taken as we'll as the prior Admin
Sstration."
"With respect to Palestine separ-
ately,' the statement added, "tbe only
action taken there was to obtain from
the British government the recognition
Of the legal rights already acquired by
the Standard Oil Company in Palestine
through permits which had been issued
10 that company, and the department
did no more, than it does for any
american citizen in supporting his
legally acquired rights"
Permits Anse-Date War,
The Standard Oil Company is under
stood 70 hold a number Of permits from
tbs Turkish government for oil pros
pecsing in Palestine. some OF them
ante dating the war. There has been
} correspondence of most friendly
character between the Washington and
London governments in connectionswith
these, and it was said that the British
authorities had shown no inclination to
deny their validity or.to prevent prog
pecting under them.
In none of these matters, however,
was the Dutch 8heu Companys referred
TO by Mr.. Morgenthau, concerned, 1t
was added, nor has the Standard Oil
or any other American concern been
Furnished with State Department let
ters intended for use in negotiations
with other oil concerns in Palestine
or IN Mesopotamia.
1t Is possible that Mr. Morgenthau
had in mind correspondence over
Mesopotamian oil interests in which
the United States objected to the ex-
elusive divisfsnP of gthe field there be-
tween British and French interests
under the San Reno agreement. The
British recognized at the time of that
correspondence the soundness of the
American complaint at being excluded
from any opportunity for American enz
terprse. and while no official report
mas yet been received Of Lord Curzor' q
statement TO the press as Lausanne
recently, that Great Britain regarded
the San Reno pact as "null and void
tnere is no disposition here to doubt
That such is the British attitude.
Interest Humanitarian r
As TO the general attitude of fhe
American delegation at Lausanne. Il
can be said authoritatively that in
struetions to Ambassadors Child make
" very plain that q paramount intere /
OF the United States relates to hurnani-
Isnan considerations. such as the
rights OF religious and racial minori-
ties, the protection of educational in.
stitutions and similar questions in
Turkey. "a
IL Is strongly hoped in Washington
ghat the Lausanne meeting will result
in general agreements on these points.
conferences at Lausanne between
ambassador Child and the Turkish
delegates are believed to have dealt
With such questions rather than with
preliminary steps toward a separate
treaty with Turkey. Such a treaty. II
10 thought in official circles, would. in
all probability, be predicated largely
upen agreements reached by the Ian
Same conference and the treaty nego-
lions would, therefore, follow rather
shan preeede the conference.
Open Door Covers Situation
The open door policy of the United
states, as applying to Turkey. Mas
siready been stated to the conference
by the ambassador. Broadly speaking
It Is said, this would cover American
concerns. The view taken here annehrs
TO be that the United States probably
would be inclined TO 3ndorse a disposf
ton of the Straits problem that was
agreeable 20 the Europesn powers. nro-
vided it meant equal treatment for all
nations, ss those powers are more i'm
mediately concerned in this problem
than the Washington government.
Aside from these broad outlines If
policy, humanitarian and therefore
universal In scope on the one hand
and Tor the open door for trade and
commerce Developments ia Turkey on
the other, IL is understood that The
american delegation at Lausanne il
not working in the interest of any
specific American commercial project
IN the Near East. And II can be said.
definitely that the Washington govern.
faent seeks only TO obtain proper rec
ignition of the right of American bust
ness enterprises to compete against all
comerg IN the iermtouyner1 OF TnSkAtr