The Washington herald., 1920-12-13
zap, OCEANDOT,
PREGNANT WITH
WORLD TROUBLE
Rights to Uncensored
Communication Is :.
Involved.
U.sPOwER MENACED
No Question of Cables Raised
During Paris Confer
BY COL. e. N. HOUSE.

NE" IOhhs ACC- 10 ~ ONe 80
he broad expanse of the Pacific lies
he island OF Yap. 1t is so small that
wen upon a map. OF oceanica, a
mere dot is sufficient to designate
L. However, 1t has an Importance
md a significance wholly unrelated
% its size.
When the Entente was dividing
ne bearskin long before the United
Itates came in to finish the killing,
was agreed that the German pos
Dessions in the Pacific north Of the
Equator would be taken by japan
md those south of the Equator
Fould go to Australia and New Zea-
and. This understanding gave TO
Japan her claim upon the Caroline
md Marshall groups of islands, a
laim which she asserted with force
md persistence at Paris.
>-'No Reason for Opposition.
There was no good reason for
american opposition to this conten-
ion, especially since by general
consent, the islands contiguous to
australia and New Zealand were to
go to those States as. matter of
heir future safety against German
aggression. No difference IN princi-
Die could be raised, but there was a
lecided difference. as far as we
we're concerned, irr the matter OF ex-
,ediency.
Whether or not we should have
AIKEN over the Philippines from
ypain. and whether or not we should
Keep them is another question which
Il is not necessary to go into here,
but we have them now. and we also
rave the Sandwich Islands group,
Ind the Caroline and Marshall
Islands lie in the path between the
TWO. And our interests do not end
here. since it so happens that the
ISLAND of zap is the connecting
INK in the cable route running
rom San Francisco to Shanghai,
and also a link in the alternative
Houte from Guam to Manila.
q. 5. Realized World Power.
When the Spanish war was over,
he United States unexpectedly
'ound herself world power. This
vas not realized at first, and 1t is
,nly since the world war that we
iave become fully conscious of the
PLACE We have taken more by chance
han by design. One OF the first
hings OF which cognizance wa.
AIKEN was our isolation regardine
:aole service 1t was found that
he United States was almost wholly
dependent upon other nations. She
vas permitted the use of cable
teryice by suffrance only.
Before we entered the war. the
serman cables were cut and taken
bver by the Allies. therefore, il was
;ontended at Paris, a contention we
ieVer admitted, that we were with
but rights in the matter.
The question of cable control was
ieft open at Paris, but it was agreed
mat IT should be referred to a com
mission 1t is a point of Irritation
which should not be allowed N
continue, for it might easily grow
into something more serious. Sure-
~ our world interests and our
commerce entitle US to a freedom
and security of communication
which we do not now possess
On Laying New Cables.
The natural question is, why do
we not build our own cables? The
answer is that it is far more diff
cult to do so than appears on the
surface. For one thing, and We
need mention no more, gutta percha
Is necessary for insulation, and
sutta percha is a foreign monopoly.
therefore, it is not the cost SO much
as other considerations that have
Kept US from placing ourselves in a
position OF comparative independ-
ence.
When Paris was being considered
Tor the peace conference. the United
states before making any commit
ments, asked Clemenceau that we
De granted complete liberty in the
use OF the lines of communication
out OF France. He gave his consent
generously and gladly even though
at the time there was a strict CEN
sorsn1p over such matters. In pass
ing, IT may be said"that the great
Frenchman's spoken word was all
ways considered sufficient by those
OF US who knew him best. Again,
when Geneva was being discussed
for the seat of the league of ma
tions, her representatives at Paris
promised that there would be no
opposition to the erection of a
wireless station capable of sending
messages halfway around the
world. This precaution was taken
also at the insistence of the Amer
leans, who felt even then that this
country should be free to communi-
cate home without a surveillance of
any sort whatever.
SO the question Of Yap is largely
. question of the control of COM
munications, a control that we can
not consent to place wholly within
the hands of any power. 1t is a
part OF the general question of con-
trpl Of foreign communications and
isAof Importance both in times of
peace and in war. 1t is full of possi-
oiifties of danger. and while IL should
be handled with fairness, there
should be that delicate and diplo-
matte touch that indicates a Just
consideration OF the rights Of all.
Copyright. 1890. Public Ledger Col