The Washington herald., 1921-01-26
ENGLISH BACK
JAPAN CLAIM
TOYAP ISLAND
Wilson Submits League
Records on Pacific Is
lands to Senate.
U. S. FAILED TO GET
WRITTEN PROTOCOL
Nippon Evades Appeal of
America to Outline PO-
sition in Far East.

he Wilson administration yester-
day called upon its arch enemy. the
Foreign Relations Committee of the
Senate. for assistance in its fight to
establish the right of the United
States for the Observation-Disclosures
Of the Island OF Yap.
Norman H. Davis, Acting Secre-
tary Of State, appeared before the
committee yesterday morning. and
with the approval of the President,
gave the committee its first glimpse
Of the peace conference, a right that
the Republican members have
sought or more than a year and
have heretofore been denied.
shows L. =. Claims.
Tn" testimony OF Mr.. Davis de-
vclopcd the following sensational
facts in regard to the question OF
First. That the United States is
forced TO base its opposition to the
granting Zap TO Japan upon two
passing references in the Official
minutes where President Wilson
stated that it was the intention Of
the United States to reserve its
rights as to Yap. But there is moth
ing in the nature of a written agree
ment or protocol as is customary in
such cases to support the American
contention.
Second. That in a note addressed
to this government early last De-
cember the British government stat
ed that on the face of the records
of the Perce Confereuce-more es-
pecially the session OF May :, where
the final decision as to the disposi-
tion of the North Pacific islands
was made-His Majesty's govern
ment would be forced to recognize
the claim of Japan as II related
to the Island of zap.
without Information.
Third. That this government has
learned, only through the statement
of Arthur Balfour in Parliament.
that Nthe council Of the league of
nations had disposed of, and ap
proved of the disposition of. the
mandate for all of the North Pa
cifc islands. Although this action
was taken on December II, this
government today does not know
whether any exception was made
as to Yap.
Fourth. That this government to-
day is not in possession of 4 great
er part of the minutes of the Peace
Conference and does not know when
it will be able TO get them.
Japan Keeps silent.
Fifth. That Japan had not in cny
way during the Peace Conference
or since committed itself in writ
ing, or in any official manner. as
to its position, and that it was still
attempting, despite the most pro-
nounced opposition Of the Cnited
States government. to base its claim
for the North Pacific islands on the
treaty of 1915. In this treaty Japan
was given outright the former Ger
man possessions in the North Pa
ciic and former German territory
in China in return for partiCipa-
tion on the side Of the allies in
the war.
The effect Of Mr Davis testimony
before the committee may fairly be
said to have been Impressive in the
highest degree Analysis of the in
formation that leaked out OF the
executive session of the committee
developed the following sentiment
among its members:
League Approves L. =.
That Japan. in its negotiations
with the United States during and
since the Peace Conference in re-
speCt to Zap. and for that matter its
entire Far Eastern policy had praC-
ticed evasion and usurped power
and authority for which it had never
obtained authority from the rest of
the world.
That the question of the disposi-
tion of the Island OF zap. in which
the United States originally was con-
cerned only with Japan, was now
one in which Great Britain had be-
come involved against us, and II the
council of the league of nations has
decided unfavorably to the United
States, one in which this country
may have to face the united oppo-
sition of the league.
The opinion was expressed by
members Of the committee during
Mr.. Davis's testimony, ii is under
stood, that the Senate had been
called in as a Consultant at a very
late day to be of assistance along
the line hewed so far by this gov
ernment
Committee TO Help.
The only specific suggestion Of
fered as a remedy-aDd the impress
sion was gained after the meeting
that the Foreign Relations Com
mittee will do all that it can to
support the Wilson position was
that as soon as practicable-thatI Is,
as soon as complete minutes Of the
Peace Conference could be obtained
- this government should make
public the record; show the world
that, after all, the omission Of spe-
ciic objection to japanese occupa-
tion of Yap was a technicality, and
attempt to rsgain in the court of
public opinion the right of this
government to press jtS claim for
the Observation-Disclosures of the
island of Yap.
The committee followed for some
time, it is understood, a line Of
inquiry oreHed by Senator Philah-
der C. Knox, Of Pennsylvania, as
to the authority under which the
Japanese were now operating eN-
tensively in Siberia, and which had
brought about the death Of w. H.
Y 90