The Washington herald., 1920-12-15
Conference AHots Fifth
Interest, Temporarily, to
Allied Nations.
ALSO MEANS A PART
OWNERSHIP OF YAP
Belief Current Decision
Recognizes U. S. Claim
To Oother Rewards.

teruationaI cable conference was
ayerted yesterday by a unanimous
agreement TO pool all the interests
arising from the seizure of the
German cables and 20 permit each
nation 10 have a one-ffth interest
in their ownership and operation
This pooling agreement is TO re-
main in force until February 10
and in the meantime the conference
is to remain in session in the hope
Of agreeing upon a permanent set
tlement. Vacancies in the confer
ence due to the departure Of some
of the delegates to consult their
home governments on the points
involved in the controversy will be
filled by the ambassadors Of these
governments in Washington
Administration officials declare
the agreement reached yesterday is
distinct victory for the United
States as il confirms tbe7 title OF
this government 20 a one-fifth share
Of the cable facilities acquired as
a result Of the war.
Japan Agrees
Under the pooling arrangement.
the United States is, given an in
terest of one-fifth in the Island OF
! Zap, the full possession OF which
I has been stubbornly demanded by
Japan throughout the sessions OF
the conference.
The announcement that an agree
ment had been reached was made
by the State Department, which
made public a resolution adopted
by the conference. stating the terms
of the agreement and also giving
as a reason for the departure OF
some delegates their desire 20 con-
suit their government heads and
] return with recommendation
4 1t was admitted at the State De-
partment that the agreement was a
direct result OF the action OF Under
secretary Davis in laying before the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
the full statement OF Americas po-
sition in the controversy and the
attitude Of that committee IN sorv-
ing notice upon the conference that
America was entitled to a fair dis
tribution Of the cables.
This attitude was expressed in the
letter which Senator Lodge. chair
man Of the committee. sent TO the
conference and which notified the
representatives of the four foreign
powers that the United States would
firmly insist upon the return as
early as possible TO the prewzr
status OF cable communication.
Senator Lodges letter also made II
plain to the conference that the
Foreign Relations Committee would
back the State Department TO tho
limit in its insistence upon Japan's
remuneration Of her claims to sole
possession of the island OF Tap.
State Department officials were
inclined TO give Senator Lodge aad
his associates on the committee a.
great deal OF credit for having
forced the hands OF the foreign rep
resentstives and compelled them TO
recede from their stubborn position.
England Mediator.
1t is known that up TO a late
: hour Monday night japan II
France were holding out against
the views of the Senate as expressed
in Senator Lodges letter. Great
Britain locked horns with Japan and
France on this issue. and the fact
that today's agreement was reached
by unanimous vote shows that
An official VIII oserved in an i'm
portant post in the State Depart
ment during the last Republican
administration. commenting upon
yesterdays agreement said that up
to the moment the Senate inter-
vened there was danger that the
conferees would be unable to agree
I and the whole matter would have
! to be submitted to the various
, nations This official said:
England. France. Italy and Japan
) have now agreed TO the principle
, that the United States is entitled
by the Versailles treaty to a one
: fifth share in the cables taken from
Germany and in my opinion the
, treaty also gives the United States
D one-hfth interest in all the
colonies taken from Germany. de-
spite the fact that the United States
has not ratified the treaty.
president Wilson had no right
to waive the claims of the United
, States to Japan without the con-
sent of the Senate. AS a matter Of
!, fact and treaty rights the United
States owns a one-fifth interest in
, the territory of the island ana japan
i has no right whatever to clala
. absolute possession OF IT,"
}. Following the announcement OF
the agreement the conference took
recess for a few days Several
, of the delegates are under instruc-
. tions to report in person TO their
! home governments and their places
: will be filed from the staffs Of the
, respective embassies here II ts be-
, lieyed that Sir Auckland Geddes will
sit in the conference as the repre-
! sentative Of England when the Nses-
sions are resumed.
Acting Secretary Davis. head OF
the American deiegation,l was au-