U.S. Says Its Approval Essential on Any Action Regarding Mandated Territories

The approval of the United States is essential to the validity of any determination which may be reached regarding mandated territories.

This declaration was formally presented to Great Britain by the United States Embassy in London, acting upon instructions from the State Department, according to information made public by the State Department yesterday.

This viewpoint was expressed in connection with advices to Great Britain that the United States believes itself entitled to have a voice regarding conditions under which the country of Iraq is to be administered when the mandate over it is formally relinquished.

The exchange of correspondence between the two governments on this matter is to be presented to the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations now in session in Geneva.

The United States makes it clear that while it has waived her right to be consulted regarding the termination of special relations between Great Britain and Iraq, she nevertheless “retains the right to demand consultation with respect to the conditions under which Iraq is to be administered upon the cessation of the mandatory relationship.”

At the same time the United States serves notice that its waiver in connection with Iraq is in no way to serve as a precendent for future policy.

Referring to the American-British-Iraq convention of 1930, the United States memorandum says:

“While the American government concedes that by the terms of the tripartite convention it waived its rights to consultation with respect to the actual termination of the mandate, it considers that the right was retained to be consulted with respect to the conditions under which Iraq is to be administered upon such termination. This government is therefore of the opinion that in addition to the most favored nation treatment which, by virtue of the provisions of the tripartite convention of January 9, 1930, it will enjoy in Iraq upon the termination of the special relations, it is also entitled to a voice in the determination of the conditions upon which that most favored nation treatment is to be based.

“Accordingly the American Government desires to make a full reservation of its position in this matter, and with a view to avoiding any possible misconception which may arise in the future, to make clear that its action in refraining from insisting upon a fulfill-

ment of its rights in the case of Iraq is not to be construed as an abandonment of the principle established in 1921 that the approval of the United States is essential to the validity of any determination which may be reached regarding mandated territories.”

With regard to Iraq the British government has undertaken to give the United States copies of the assurances given by Iraq to the League of Nations as a preliminary to the termination of the mandate and admission to the League.