MANDATE DISTRICTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 164, 7 April 1921, Page 5

MANDATE DISTRICTS

NOTE OF PROTEST FROM UNITED STATES

DIVISION OF MESOPOTAMIAN OIL SUPPLIES

By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. Washington, April 5.

The United Press learns that the State Department has sent to Britain, France, and Japan, and possibly to Italy, a new Note protesting against their attitude regarding the mandate territories. It is understood the Note strongly presents the United States opinion regarding Yap, and protests against tho San Remo agreement between Britain and France regarding the division of Mesopotamian oil supplies. The Note declares that the United States, through cx-President Wilson, never definitely or tacitly assented to the inclusion of Yap in the Japanese mandate; also that Britain’s and France’s action regarding Mesopotamia had violated the spirit of the mandate principle. —■Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN BRITAIN AND AMERICA. London, April 5. A White Paper contains correspondence between Britain and the United States regarding tho economic rights in mandate districts, particularly Palestine and Mesopotamia. The United States alleged that its oil interests were suffering. Lord Curzon replied that no pipe lines had been laid in Mesopotamia: the only werk done had been for purely military purposes. It was not true that Britain had utilised tho'war in order to prepare for exclusive control of the oil reserves. Lord Curzon points out that the United States herself controls 80 per cent, of the world’s oil. The question of- mandates can only be properly discussed by the signatories to the Covenant. Mr. Bainbridge Colby replied that he had received most of Lord Curzon’s statements with satisfaction, but the. United States was a participant in the war, and could rightly discuss after-war problems without being a signatory. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.