672     THE PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE, 1919, VOLUME V
likely to get out of her share of Asia Minor, he was wont to dwell upon
the wonders of a certain copper mine, which he said, I am sure quite
truly, was to be found somewhere in the French zone. In the same
way, I observe that Baron Sonnino's eyes are lovingly fixed upon a
very indifferent coal mine on the Southern shores of the Black Sea.
Personally, I regard these hopes and expectations with considerable
scepticism. I doubt the existence of these hidden riches in Southern
Anatolia. Even if they exist, I doubt whether their exploitation is
going to make Italy rich; and I have a strong suspicion that even if
these industrial enterprises are started under Italian patronage, they
will be found after no great lapse of time to be under German manage-
ment. But all this does not seem to me to be to the point. The object is
to find some privileged position for the Italians in Southern Anatolia;
and I particularly beg the "Three" to remember that she has already
got the germs of such a position by a pre-war arrangement which she
t made with the Turks, in respect of the region neighbouring on Adalia.
My suggestion only extends and emphasises her privileges. It does
not create them.
In any case, as Italy is not, under my plan, intended to occupy the
position of a Mandatory in these regions, the general principle-that
no Mandatory has a right to exceptional trade advantages in the
country which it controls-is not violated. The only difference that I
can see between what would happen under my plan, and what would
happen if nothing were done for the Italians in Asia Minor, is that in
the first case Italy would without question or controversy have the
refusal of all concessions within a certain area: in the second case
these concessions will be scrambled for at Brussa by the rival company-
mongers of every country under Heaven, supported, no doubt, by their
respective Ministers. The first plan may be an infringement upon the
liberty and equality, nominally at least, secured by the second; but 1
do not know that these most excellent things are seen to the best advan-
tage when they are enjoyed by corrupt administrators and greedy
speculators.
rBut once again, this is relatively unimportant compared with the
Fain objects of the scheme I am endeavouring to support. This is
designed to do two things; to maintain something resembling an ind
pendent Turkish Government, ruling over a homogeneous Turkishl
population; the other is to find a position for the Italians within this
Turkish state which will make a sufficient appeal to the ambitions of
the Italian Government. From every other point of view the plan is,
I admit, a bad one; but from this point of view-which is the one at
the moment chiefly occupying our thoughts-I still think it worthy of
serious consideration.
A. J. B[ALEou]