Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-10-02
WILSON GAVE WAY TO JAPAN.
Surrendered Control of Pacific During
Peace Conference.

Washington, Oct. 2.-How Presi-
dent Wilson, In the face OF warning
from his own administration snr-
rendered to japan at the peace con-
ference the Pacific island .outposts,
possession of which might decide a
war between the United States and
Japan. was revealed here.
1t transPired that on the eve or
the assembling OF the peace confer
ence at Paris, the general board OF
the navy. the highest authority on
strategic policy for external defense
OF the nation, prepared n m~moran-
dunn setting forth the, menace to the
United States OF permitting Japan to
retain possession OF the Iadrone.
Caroline. and Marshall groups OF is-
lands in the north Pncfrlc. which be-
longed to Germany prior to the war
and which Japan took over at thA
beginning of the war.
The memorandum pointed out that
these islands cut across the line OF
communication between the United
States and the Philippines, consti-
tute a screen behind which the Phil
ippines could be skized, unless i'm
pregnably fortified ana defended. and
envelop the American island OF Guam.
which IS not only q vital limiting point
OF American Pacific communications
but the site Of n prospective great
American naval base.
The board viewed with grave an
prehenston the possession of these
island strongholds by an aggressive
power which already has beensnotice-
ably reaching out For domination
OF tho Pacific. a power with which
the United States might come to
blows
Even before the development In
Japan of popular agitation to press
the racial equality demands on the
United States. II was reported that
the Toxic government had begun the
fertilization of the islands and the es-
tabHshment of submarine bases ther.
on, thus raising the question OF vio
lation OF the terms Of the league Of
nations covenant under which japan
Was given a mandate to govern the
archipelasoes.
The japanese embassy has en-
phatically denied any violation OF
the covenant enjoining on manda-
tories, the prevention of the estab-
lishment of Notifications or military
and naval bases and of military
training OF the natives for other than
police purposes and the defense of
territory"
This provision is construed by
some, however. as permitting forti-
tlcations for the defense of the islands
and such bases might easily be ex-
Panded in time of war into q for
m1dable ocean barrier
American naval authorities agree
that In the event Of war between the
two nations Japan would seize the
Philippines which we could not pre-
vent unless large part f.our navy
We're on the scene welLahead of time.
In that event the Japs could intrench
themselves behind the North Pacific
islands and await attack. a prodi.
gious undertaking for an American
fleet 1000 miles or more from home
shores with no adequate bases at
hand.
The fact that Japan had been
promised the islands by the secret
treaties Of 1917 with Great Britain
and France was not deemed fnsuD-
erable by the American naval author
tiles. 1t was conceived that in the
barsainins at Versailles the presi
dent would be able to command the
award of the former German islands
to the, United States.