The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
CHESTER'SG GRANT
CAUSES ANXIETY
STATE DEPARTMENT ASKS THE
AMERICAN SYNDICATE TO
GO SLOW IN turkey.
OIL AT BOTTOM OF TROUBLE
British and French, Asserting Their
Claims, Are Likely to Attempt to
Bring About Revocation of the
Extensive Concession.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

~ D. SGHhN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the old
saying that truth lies at the bottom
of a well, students of international
conditions in Washington say that If
war ever Is found" again it will be
discovered at the bottom of an oil well.
Developments In Washington thus
far have failed to ease the anxiety
lest the oil concession granted by
Turkey to an American syndicate
shall create international difficulties
which may bear the fruit Of danger.
One of the first things which Uncle
Sans State department did after
hearing that the Angora assembly had
sanctioned the oil concession to Rear
Admiral Colby NJ. Chester and per-
sons associated with him, was to re-
quest that there should be no imme-
date movement In the direction Of
securing funds for the oil development
enterprise without first consulting the
officials of the Department of State.
Great Britain and France have their
claims in the affected territory. and
seemingly there is nothing particular
ly soothing to American financial
Sensibilities in the most recent reports
from Great Britain and France eon
corning the feelings over the matter
In those countries.
The State department naturally and
probably entirely properly takes the
view that, this CONCESSION having been
granted by ar independent govern
ment TO persons of its W choosing,
there car be no proper interference
by European powers because a COM
mercial advantage seems to be ac-
cruing to American business interests.
How the British Feel About It..
Students of the situation here seem
to believe, however, that there will be
attempts made to secure the revoca-
ton of the grant by European powers
who hold concessions in the affected
territory granted to them by the old
regime in Turkey. Moreover. Amerl-
can observers of the situation say
that so far as the people of Great
Britain are concerned it will be found
that there exists a strong sentiment
for the pressing of the original British
claims in the matter. Sentiment of a
whole people is accounted by diplo-
mats as a great factor in international
matters, and so 1t may be that senti-
ment In the cast of Great Britain
may prove stronger than the mere de-
sire to c commercial privileges.
A day or two ago the writer talked
TO an Engllshman on the general SUBJ
ject of the Turkish oil concession to
American interests. The Englishman
is a man of high standing in his own
country, although he is not an official
of his government. What he said
probably gives the human viewpoint
of the average Englishman, and the
sentiment underlying his statement
possibly may prove to be a prime
cause for sharp international ex-
changes before the whole matter Is
settled. The Englishman said this:
There were 100000 British soldiers
who laid down their lives In Meso-
potamia for the cause of civilization.
The British people spent hundreds of
millions of pounds to rout the Turk
III lhC ouAhC NduSC. AIC IOiilllclCldl
privileges to be denied to the nation
which won the Eastern victory for
humanity"
French Hold Old Concessions.
The French hold concessions from
the old Ottoman government in the
fields TO which the American enter
prise is turned for development pur-
poses, and for which it has been
given the sanction of the Angora as
sembly. Not only the French and
the British but also the Russians
claim they have priority rights in the
oil fields involved in the concession
TO Americans. The Americans. how
ever, seemingly were earlier in the
field, for as long ago as 1908 Rear Ad-
miral Chester started negotiations to
obtain for United States interests
priority rights in this particular Turk
ish oil-producing district.
Admiral Chester, who is retired. Is
In his eightieth year, but he is active
today in every walk of life. For years
he has been attempting to secure rail-
way and mine, as we'll as oil, conces-
sions from the Turkish government.
He is said to be personally grateful to
the Turks and probably their long
knowledge of him had something to
do with the granting of this conces-
sion with its tremendous possibilities.
The admiral, by the way, was an en-
sign under Farragut and took part
in the battle of Mobile bay and in
the capture of Fort Morgan in 1864.
Kermit Roosevelt, who is interested
with Admiral Chester in the plan for
the development of the oil fields,
knows something about Mesopotamia
on his w account. He Joined the
British forces in that area against
the Turks.
investigating Veterans Bureau.
Maj. Gen. John f. Organ of New
York, officer in the reserve corps of
the army and commander of a division
overseas, and who today is counsel on
the senate committee charged with the
work of investigating the affairs of the
veterans bureau, has declared there