The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-14
CHESTER PROJECT
IS CAUSING ct R
AMONG COUNT |ES
France and Russia Protest
Grant To American Com
pany-EngIand Silent

LONDON, April ia New
International row in the Near East,
centering in the scramble of the
nations of the world for Turkey s
riches. and threatening to involve
the United States to the greatest
extent, is gathering strength in
European capitals as the result Of
the Turkish concessions to the
Ottoman American Development Co.,
otherwise known as the Chester pro-
ject.
Bitterness of the struggle already
seems assured with both France and
Russia protesting against the Chester
grant and Britain contemplating
similar action. The terms of the
concession, under which Admiral
Colby Chester, L. S. NJ, retired, Cen
eral George w. Gotehals and other
Americans get great commercial ad
Nantages in Turkey, as outlined
by Clayton Kennedy. Near Eastern
agent of the Ottoman Co. strengthens
the prospect of an impending out
burst of rivalry.
Concession Exclusive
Kennedy maintains that the con-
session is exclusive and expects the
United State department to support
il. Kennedy, a Britisher, was one of
the principal negotiators of the con-
cession. He confirms that the Chester
project not only includes the con-
struction of 5000 kilometers of rail
way but grants the exclusive rights
to development of oil and other re-
sources &c kilometers each side OF the
railways.
The ottoman company representa-
tive Informed the United News that
in as much as one of the proposed
lines will transverse the Mouul OIL
area. now held Great Britain
under Il mandate of the League OF
Nations. Americans Will have the
fight to exploit the richest oil lands
of the Mosul section which the Bri-
fish claim.
The British protest, which is re-
ported as having been held up pend
ing a full investigation of the Chester
graf, is now understood to be ap-
preciably nearer.
Kennedy declared in an exclusive
interview.
I'VE expect at least one aspirant
to our concession to raise the issue
at Lausanne. However, the state de-
partment's statements of olicy con-
corning commercial opportunity in
the Near East indicates that the
United States government Will sup
port US.
position will remain unchanged.
The Turkish parliament never
ratified either the French railway
concession or the British Oil conces-
sion, wherefore they are invalid.
Concerning the suggestion OF
arbitration, there is nothing to arbi-
trate. We intend to demand the full
rights granted under the concession"
O O o
Claim Illegally
Further complaints are seen In the
fact that the Anglo Persian Co, re-
Gently arranged with the Standard
Oil. Co. a share in Mesopotamian oil
in order to settle the British Ameri-
can dispute concerning the oil rights
in inundated territories. But Ken
nedy's opinion, the British promoters
divided uo some thing which was not
Theirs to divide.
Kennedy claims that between one
and two hundred million dollars are
involved in the railway and oil con-
cessions Two other concessions IN
cluded in the Chester grant-agricul-
tural development and the rebuilding
of Angora-did not require the rati-
flcation of Angora national assembly.
Kennedy stated that unless things
are obstructed politically, men Will
start from America within two
months to begin work under the con-
resSions