'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎200v] (398/501)

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the 9th November he received orders from the Turkish Government to evacuate. Apart
from this, will Ismet Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. allow me to remind him that armistice conditions have
nothing to do with the final settlement of the conditions of peace ? There is not a war
in history in which movements of troops have not taken jDlace after the conclusion of
an armistice. In spite of the armistice of Mudania the movements of troops in Eastern
Ihrace are going on at this moment, as is w^ell known. There is not a single treatv in
history in which the armistice lines have been the peace lines ultimately laid down.
Moreover, article 7 of the Mudros armistice expressly authorised the Allies’ troops to
occupy strategical points in Turkey outside the armistice lines in the event of any
situation arising which threatens the security of t{ie Allied lines. That was precisely
the case with Mosul, and therefore the occupation of that city, only a few miles distant,
a few hours after the armistice was signed was fully provided for by the terms of the
armistice itself.
. “ I on ly desire to allude to one more subject before I conclude, and that is a subject
which was not referred to by Ismet Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , but which is widely and constantly discussed
m the press of the world. It is supposed and alleged that the attitude of the British
Government with regard to the retention of Mosul is affected by the question of oil.
The question of the oil of the Mosul Vilayet has nothing to do with my argument. I
have presented the British case on its own merits quite independently" of any natural
resources there may be in the country. I do not know how much oil there mav be in
the neighbourhood of Mosul, or whether it can be worked at a profit, or whether it may
turn out after all to be a fraud During the time I have been connected with the
foreign affairs of my country I have never spoken to or interviewed an oil magnate. I
have never spoken to or negotiated with a single concessionnaire or would-be
concessionnaire for the Mosul oil or any other oil. I do not think that everyone in this
room can say the same. ^ It is notorious that since we have been here in Lausanne
three representatives of the Turkish delegation were sent to London to offer oil
concessions in the Mosul area (which is not theirs to dispose of i to British conces-
sionnaires. That was done without reference to me and without my knowledge I
believe these gentlemen when they arrived in London said they had come over in-order
to inspect the institutions and collections of that great capital. I don’t think they
saw many of them. They came back very quickly when they found there was no actual
business ^o be done behind my back, and their visit to British institutions was therefore
postponed. I hope that next time they come to London they will give me the pleasure
of calling on them, and I will have the greatest satisfaction in taking them personally
to the British Museum. Meanwhile what are the facts of the case ? Just before the
war a concession was given for the oilfields of the Mosul and Bagdad Vilayets by the
Turkish Government to a British limited liability company—the Turkish Petroleum
Gompany. the Germans had an interest in the company, and when they were defeated
m tie war their interest passed to the British. The British Government after full
examination were convinced and remain convinced of the validity of this ’concession
They lelt and feel bound to uphold it. But both the British Government and company
itself recognised that oil is a commodity m which the world is interested, and as to
winch it is a great mistake to claim or to exercise a monopoly. Accordingly the
company, with the full knowledge and support of the British Government, took steos
and negotiations have ever since been proceeding, to associate the interests of other
countries and other parties in this concession, so that all those that are equally
interested may have a share.
If the exploitation is successful, Irak will be the main gainer and the world will
gam also, and! have no doubt that Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. will profit in her town. That is the
substance of the oil affair, which I have explained to the commission in order that they
may knovy the exact amount ot influence-and it is nil-whieh has been exercised in
ofMosul ° n * attl 6 Which 1 haV6 Ventured t0 take U P *oday on this question
“ 1 lla ™ n " w completed my statement of the reasons which have rendered it
impossible for the British Government to agree to the Turkish demands. With she
utmost desire to arrive at an amicable solution with the Turkish delegation of ill
the difficulties that confront us, and to conclude a treaty honourable to both this is a
demand which 1 am bound to resist from every consideration of obligation and of
honour. It is a demand which I cannot conceive to be in the interests of the country
itself to concede m virtue of all the considerations, economic, strategical pffikicaf
historical, geographical to wh.ch Ismet Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. appealed, and on each one of wldch f
have been will,ng to rest my case to-day. Whatever be the strength of mv case
1 venture to say that no weaker case than that of the Turkish delegation has ever Sen
placed before an international conference. ' er oeen

'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎200v] (398/501)

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'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎200v] (398/501)

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