Anglo-American Relations and the Near East
Title
Anglo-American Relations and the Near East
Creator
Unknown
Identifier
WWP16207
Date
1920 March 2
Description
Letter to the editor.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Sir,—Your article of on “The Fruits of Victory” makes a suggestion which deserves to be noted. You call upon the League of Nations to devise, as a substitute for British control of Mesopotamia, “a system for giving help, financial and administrative, to the Arabs of the Middle East, without prejudice or priority to one Power or another.”
As one who desires the permanence of Anglo-American friendship, I would emphasize your advice. Unless the partition of the Turkish Empire is made in the manner suggested by you, it is certain to breed ill-will between Great Britain and the United States. Already the feeling of most well-informed Americans respecting the Turkish “decisions” now being prepared by the Peace Conference is one of scornful suspicion. From what they know about British, French, and Italian plans Americans believe that this Near Eastern “Settlement” will consist of territorial deals, made without consulting the native population and based upon the interests—politely known as “rights”—of the three Powers concerned. From such a division of spoils the Americans whom I know, whatever their politics, rejoice that their Government is standing completely aloof. They would welcome and be prepared to join a scheme such as you propose carried out by the League of Nations. But if they see one member of that League appropriating Mesopotamia, another Syria and Cilicia, another the Southern Coast of Anatolia, their reluctance to share responsibility with such associates cannot fail to be strengthened. They will regard Article 10 of the Covenant as a device for getting America to insure real estate “scoops” made in Europe.
If France and Great Britain really wish the United States to enter the League, let them not give it strong reasons for not entering. Another shock, such as America received from the Anglo-Persian Treaty, is not in the interest of British and American goodwill, a commodity more valuable than Mesopotamian oil.—Yours, & c.,
An American Member of the “English-Speaking Union.”
London.
As one who desires the permanence of Anglo-American friendship, I would emphasize your advice. Unless the partition of the Turkish Empire is made in the manner suggested by you, it is certain to breed ill-will between Great Britain and the United States. Already the feeling of most well-informed Americans respecting the Turkish “decisions” now being prepared by the Peace Conference is one of scornful suspicion. From what they know about British, French, and Italian plans Americans believe that this Near Eastern “Settlement” will consist of territorial deals, made without consulting the native population and based upon the interests—politely known as “rights”—of the three Powers concerned. From such a division of spoils the Americans whom I know, whatever their politics, rejoice that their Government is standing completely aloof. They would welcome and be prepared to join a scheme such as you propose carried out by the League of Nations. But if they see one member of that League appropriating Mesopotamia, another Syria and Cilicia, another the Southern Coast of Anatolia, their reluctance to share responsibility with such associates cannot fail to be strengthened. They will regard Article 10 of the Covenant as a device for getting America to insure real estate “scoops” made in Europe.
If France and Great Britain really wish the United States to enter the League, let them not give it strong reasons for not entering. Another shock, such as America received from the Anglo-Persian Treaty, is not in the interest of British and American goodwill, a commodity more valuable than Mesopotamian oil.—Yours, & c.,
An American Member of the “English-Speaking Union.”
London.
Original Format
Article
Collection
Citation
Unknown, “Anglo-American Relations and the Near East,” 1920 March 2, WWP16207, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.