THE COUNCIL OF FOUR


concessions for the mandatory Power, he pointed out that this was
contrary to the principle provided for in the League of Nations'
Covenant for equal opportunity to all Nations in mandated territory.
This did not mean that the United States of America would rush
in everywhere. Direct American enterprise was certainly not to be
expected in Anatolia. There would certainly be a natural priority
to the Mandatory but there should not be a priority of claim.
MR. LLoYD GEORGE quite agreed and pointed out that it would be
very unfair if the Italians had a priority of claim in Southern
Anatolia when the British were compelled to give equal opportunity
in German East Africa.
PRESIDENT WILSON said that his object all along had been to avoid
even an appearance of grabbing. These considerations brought us
face to face with the problem as to the form of political unity which
was to exist in Southern Anatolia. His idea would be to organise
it as a self-governing unit, to elect its own Governor-General with
Konia as its capital. Otherwise, there would be the difficulty of a
single capital in which the representatives of both Mandatories
would live.
MR. LLOYD GEORGE said that another scheme was that the Sultan
should remain in Constantinople exercising supervision over the
whole of Turkey. France would then overlook one part of Anatolia,
Italy another part, Greece a third, while the United States overlooked
the Sultan. If Brusa was in the French Mandate and the Sultan
ruled over the whole of Anatolia, it would create a very awkward
situation for the Italians.
PRESIDENT WILSON said that Southern Anatolia would have to be
constituted as a separate unit.
M. CLEMENCEAU asked who would appoint the Governor?
MR. LLoYD GEORGE suggested the Sultan under advice.
PRESIDENT WILSON asked if the Turks could not elect a Governor.
MR. LLOYD-GEORGE said this would make it a Republic.
PRESIDENT WILSON said he had no objection to this.
MR. LLOYD GEORGE thought that difficulties would arise in connec-
tion with the Khalifate in this case.
M. CLEMENCEAU said his objection to any scheme by which the
Sultan nominated the Governor or to any scheme of election was that
there would be a French and an Italian candidate and this would
always give rise to friction and difficulty. He suggested that a
Prince should be drawn from the Sultan's family and appointed to
rule in Anatolia. In any other scheme, there would be trouble all
the time.
PRESIDENT WILSON suggested that the Italians should be left to
choose a member of the Sultan's family.
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