The Washington herald., 1920-12-13

MANDATE THAT
STIFLE TRADING
Toxic Takes Similar Po-
sitiOn to U. S. in League
Debate.

GENEVA, Dec. 12-Your corre-
spondent today obtained from the
highest source details of a Japanese
protest against the British interpre-
tation of the mandate clauses of the
covenant, in which the Tokyo gov
ernment virtually takes the same
position as the United States took in
the olby oil notes. The Japanese say
their protest preceded the American
State Departments notes, having. it
is understood. been presented long
before the openig of the Geneva as
sembly.
In its essence. the Japanese view
point is even stronger than the
American position. Japan contends
for a strict Interpretation by Great
Britain of the letter and spirit of
the covenants mandate stipulations.
insisting especially upon freedom of
economic opportunity for all nations
without special privileges for, the
mandatory. In making this conten-
tion, Japan points out that the in
clusion Of equal opportunities for
trade and commerce was one of the
principles upon which the Japanese
representative at the peace confer
ence based their consent at the time
of it's framing to the mandate sys-
tenn.
Insists on Equal Opportunity.
Japan considered that, although
the form OF mandate under the
heading of which would come such
territory as the Pacific islands. etc,
was the outcome OF a compromise
between the principles of outright
annexation and a mandatory sys-
tenn, she nevertheless could not as
sent to the exclusion of free and
equal opportunities for trade and
commerce when such opportunities
were virtually one of the safe
guards the native population had
conferred on them by the mandate.
Japan's explanation OF this position
is as follows:
There are five conditions pre-
scribed by the covenant as safe
guarding the indigenous population
in whose interest the mandate is to
be administered. The first guaran-
tees freedom of religion and con-
science: the second prohibits abuses:
the third prevents the establishment
OF fortifications or military and
naval bases: the fourth prevents
military training of the natives and
the fifth calls for securing equal
opportunities for trade and COM
merce for other members of the
league.
Ignored by Great Britain.
The application of these five con-
ditions rests upon the first para
graph OF the mandate clause which
Is capable OF but one Interpretation.
fhls Great Britain apeals to have
ignored in the drawing up of con-
tracts for the administration of ter.
ritories over which she has received
mandates. The inclusion of three of
these above mentioned conditions
and the elimination of two Others.
1t Is claimed, cannot be considered a
FAITHFUL Interpretation of the man.
GATE clause. To agree not to fortify
Mesopotamia, for example. and in
the same breath to exclude the guar
antee for an open door, is considered
an incorrect Interpretation and cam
not be accepted by Japan.
In Japan's attitude, as set forth in
thls explanation. is contained the
quintessence of the whole deadlock
on mandates which arose several
months ago and which had its re-
ectlon in the assembly's impotency
to settle the matter.
Until the supreme council is able
TO agree. the japanese and Amer
lcan objections are overcome and
certain Australian and French Diff
hculties smoothed out. the league
can say nothing on the mandate
system Of which the covenant and
treaty have made it the trustee.
This has been plainly shown
throughout the deliberations of the
special committee here dealing with
the question. Mandates being the
spoils OF war-nominally the only
booty OF the last war-it is con-
sidered natural that the victorious
powers should be jealous of any
outside influences which may seem
TO Interfere with its division. Great
Britain particularly has been en-
phatc in illustrating such a tenn
per- considering both the league and
the covenant as Outside influence"
In a matter concerning only those
~ h H.