The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-04-18
JAPAN INSISTS
U. s, POSITION
ON YAP WRONG
Note of Toxic Foreign Office to
United States is Made
Public
CLAIMS WORD GIVEN HER
Says Decision of Supreme Coun-
Gil Clearly Was Under.
stood
CLAIMS WORD GIVEN HER

Washington, April 18.-To maintain
its position with regard to the Pacific
Island Of zap the American govern
ment would have to prove not mere
ly the facts that president Wilson
made reservation concerning it. but
also that the supreme council de
cided In favor Of those views the
Japenese government says in a note
under date Of last February 26, made
public today by the state department,
along with the other correspondence
between the two governments re-
garding Yap.
1T must also be remembered, ia.
pan says, that if decision in favor
Of the exclusion of the Island Of Yap-
a question of grave concern to Japan
and one on which the Japanese dele
CATION invariably maintained a firm
attitude-had really been made as it
is implied by the argument of the
United States government at the
meeting Of (the supreme council May
7, 1919, at which Japan was repre-
sented it could not but have been
regarded but as an act of entirely bad
faith"
Hughes Replied
1t was to this note that Secretary
Hughes replied last April 5, at the
same time sending notes to Great Bri-
tain, France and Italy. He declared
that the United States was unable
to agree with Japan's contention that
in order to maintain its position 1T
would have to prove not only that
president Wilson made reservations
regarding Yap but that the supreme
council adopted the same views as no
treaty has ever been concluded with
the United States relating to the ISL
and Of Yap," Mr.. Hughes added, "and
as no one has ever been authorized
to cede or surrender the right or In
terest of the United States in the
Island this government must insist
it has not lost its right or interest 1t
had prior to any action of the su-
preme council or the league Of nations
and cannot recognize the ALLEGATION
OF the Island or the validity Of the
mandate to Japan" r.a'.
Japan has not yet replied to this
communication. ....
Ill LIlc NoSoN A>ONs
the secretary Of state said 1t was the
clear understanding Of the American
government that the council at the
previous request of President. Wilson
had reserved for future consideration
the final disposition OF the island in
the hope that some government might
be reached, to pace 1t under inter
national control"
The Japanese foreign Office replied
under date Of Nov. 10 that it was
the definite understanding OF the
Japanese government that the SUI
preme council on May decided fin
ally to place under mandate OF ia
pan all of the former German islands
north of the equator, including fap.'
In response to this Acting Secre.
tary Davis dispatched a long formal
note to Toxic setting forth that the
American government could not agree
that zap was included in the deci-
sion of the supreme council Of May
I, 1919. as claimed, and that even
on the assumption that the island
had been included in the mandate "all
other governments should have free
action to the island for the landing
and operation Of cables"
Claims Long Delay
Japan's reply Of February 26 said
that if the observations of the Am
ercan government with regard to
cables was put forth irrespective OF
the fact that the island was within
Japanese mandatory territory then
the question appears to be one which
should be freely settled by the ma
tion Which has charge Of the place,
namely Japan"
The Japanese government also de-
clared it was unable to understand
why the United States had waited
for more than a year and a half to
question "the decision" of the coun-
Gil particularly in view of the publ
cation of the decision at Paris on
May 8.