File 2249/1915 Pt 4 ‘Oil: Mesopotamia & Persia. (General File) 1920–24’ [‎63v] (126/484)

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Correspondence between His Majesty’s Government and the
United States Ambassador respecting Economic Eights m
Mandated Territories.
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No. 1.
Mr. Davis to Earl Gurzon.—{Received May 13.)
Embassy of the United States of America,
' London, May 12, 1920.
My Lord, . , f , r T have the honour to intorm
PURSUANT to the instructions of my ^ been un0 (fi c ially informed
your Lordship that the Government o e m been assigned to Great Britain;
that the mandates for Mesopotamia and Palestme have been a g ^
the mandate for Mesopotamia being given subject to friendly arrange
Italian Government regarding economic ng i s. _ ont that durino’ the peace
2 . The Government of the .^at'of V^Cit cofsistenSy took" the
negotiations at Paris leading U P 1^ c ^ , ,i , a general principle, any
position that the future peace of the world required that, as a genera^p P . y
allien territory which should be acquired pursuant to the Treatmsot Ce^ treatment
Central Powers, must be held and governed in su account of, and subject to
in law, and in fact to the commerce o a j f | | aQ( j w illi n cr to agree that the •
.this understanding that the United wouldAe colsistent with "
Sgsrs tt T»a. ^ <» i-
application to the mandates over Turkish territory. interim period of
3. The administration of Palestine ^d Mesopotam a 1
military occupation has given rise to several commumc | j created the
Government and that of Great Britain relative to matteis that His
unfortunate impression in the minds of the American pub^th^tth ^ ^
Majesty’s Government in the occupied iegi i . , a ° c that Great
interests which were not accorded to American “^Wf Te od purees in this
Britain had been preparing quietly for exiclusive co reports
region. The impression referred Gr^ Britain, and of
ot authoritative statements regarding the geneiai o p y • ,, ODera tions
which created the impression
^Tcertlmd^
Government as due to military necessity, and certain aS j ^ difficult for the
of lo«l authorltios. I. —
American people to reconcile all of the»e rep ... OOCU pation does not warrant
Government that “ the provisional character of tiie m \y a ^ , P C0Jlcerninu . the f utur e
the taking of decisions by the occupying Power m ^tU ^ ^ ^
economic development of the country, and tuatt k b ibited. The United States
the exercise of rights under concessions would be^aP h ,^o vk . ninent i n att empting
Government has confidence m the go 0 ^. talt Ma i estv ’ s pdreign Office, but desires to point
to carry out the assurances given J * j r- , lte tlie’difficulty in ensuring the local
out that the considerations a ove re necess ; ty ‘f or careful measures to guarantee the
e p“aT fulfilment ^of "the principles expressed and agreed to during the peace
negotiatmns at Pans.^ ^ mind the Governme nt of the United States ventures to
suggest the following propositions which mandated
United States Government would be pleased to ^ W" P ions In