OIL CONCESSIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 March 1922, Page 5

OIL CONCESSIONS

AAIERICAN CLAIMS. * —- 7 (Australian ami N.Z. Cable Association.i AVASHINGTON, Alarch 16. ‘lt is understood that Air. Hughes lately despatched to Hie British Government a Note dealing with the question of American rights hi Alesopotamian petroleum concessions, and resuming the negotiations begun dur- 1 ing the Wilson administration. It is believed that the Note was 1 a reply to Lord Curzon’s communication of February 28, 1921, which declared that a British corporation ob- i tained a concession from the Turkish Government before the war for file exploitation of_. all the oil lands in Alesopotamia; therefore it was impossible for Britain to accede to the American contention that the ’nterests of the United States should have equal share of oil development in Alesopotamia. It is understood that Air. Hughes endorsed Ex-Secretary of State Colby’s contention that the United States is entitled to equal rights. Mr. Hughes also disputed the validitv of the Turkish petroleum conces- ■ sion. 1 i