MANDATES IN NEAR EAST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 295, 7 April 1921, Page 5

MANDATES IN NEAR EAST.

CLAIMS'BY UNITED STATES. ' LONDON, April 5. A White Paper has been issued containing correspondence between Britain and the United States regarding the economic rights of the mandated districts, particularly Palestine and Mesopotamia, where the United States alleged its oil interests were suffering. ", \. ; t ', Lord Curzon replied that no pipo-ljnes had been laid in Mesopotamia, and the only work' done hud been tor purely military purposes. It was untrue that Britain had utilised the war in order to prepare, for the- 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 the mandate can only be properly discussed by the signatories to the covenant of the'League of Nations. . ,

Mr Baiubridge Colby' replied that he had received most of Lord Curzon's statements with • satisfaction, but declared that the United States- was a participant in the war, and could rightly discuss after • problems without bein? a signatory- to the covenant. •—A. 4nd N.Z. 'cable. PROTEST MADE BY AMERICA. WASHINGTON, April 5. Tho.United.Pwts..Association.luama .that the'State Department has sent to Britain, France, Japan and possibly Jl'aty a new Note protesting against their attitude regarding the mandated territories. It is understood that the Note strongly presents the United States' opinion concerning Yap, and protests against the San Rcmo agreement between Britain and France regarding tho division of the Mesopotaniian oil supplies. Th 0 Note (feclarea thai the United States, through Dr. Wilson, has nover dolinitoly or tacitly assented to, the inclusion of Yap in the Japanese mandate; also that Britain's and France's action regarding Mesopotamia ha* violated the spirit of i-he mandate principle.—A. and .N.Z. cable,