TURKEY AND U.S.A.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15309, 9 August 1923, Page 5

TURKEY AND U.S.A.

CHESTER CONCESSION. PASSES TO BRITISH CONTROL. EX-AMBASSADOR'S STATEMENT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received August 0, 10.30 a.m. NEW YORK, August 7. According to a telegram from Williamstown (Mass.) Mr Henry Morgenthan, the former American Ambassador to Turkey, addressing the Institute of Politics, asserted that British interests now controlled the Chester concession.

Mr Morgerithan, under cross questioning, stated that his investigation of the question during his Ambassadorship convinced him that American capital originally was sold to a Canadian purchaser, thus Admiral Chester had been used as a mere catspaw.

During this discussion Sir Joseph Grigg and Mr Philip Kerr remained silent.

The correspondent of the London Daily Express at Constantinople telegraphed on March 19: "'The Turk Is greatly intrigued with a comprehensive American scheme for the reconstruction of Turkey, which includes the transformation. of Angora irto a dream city, containing the outstaud-, ing features of London, Paris, Ntw York, and Washington. The syndicate proposes to run'sugar rellne.ries, afforestation, network railways, roads, bridges, and canals, irrigation, schools of agriculture and engineering, health centres, and hotels, and to form tourist travel companies. This is merely a summary of the all-embracing trusts, the tentacles of which, it is proposed, will reach to uttermost Anatolia. The proposals indicate that, though the United States is averse to sharing European political American business people are determined to have a share in any concessions offering." A later message stated that General Gocthals, of the Chester firm, consulted with the Slate Department, whose experts freely admitted the implications of ■world political responsibility which the concession puts upon the United slates. The latter would now be compelled to take part in problems growing out of the Turkish question, and the Far Eastern mandates. The feeling Is that Angora acted quickly because she desires American capital in Turkey, and because she does not fear possible American political dominion, such as might occur from concessions granted to European Nationals.