New-York tribune., 1921-03-01
League Would
Let Premiers
Clear Yap Issue
Secret Session Approves
General Terms of Reply
to u. S.; Balfour Drafts
Text for Action To-day
/ $ hii Is Conciliatory
Documens Will Offer to
Ask Supreme Council for
Information on Award
By Ralph Courtney

Copyright, 1921. New York Tribune INC.
PARS, Feb. 2S.-The Council of the
League of Nations in its reply to the
American note on mandates, which will
be handed to Amba ssador Wallace to-
.aorrow. will offer, it is reported. to
ask the Supreme Council for further
information concerning the crcum-
stances under which the mandates
Chose relating to the Pacific islands,
we're aliocated. This, so far as can be
learned, is about the most definite
clause Of the. reply relating to the zap
mandate.
A secret session was held to-day to
consider the terms of the note. These
we're finally agreed on, but i, will not
be formally adopted until the docu.
ment is drawn up and placed before
the Council tomorrow morning.
The Council. out of considerations of
courtesy, is making special point of
fore President Wilson leaves the
White House.
Viscount Ishii, head of the japanese
delegation, is understood to have
adopted a most friendly attitude
toward America during the Councils
discussion of the reply.
Ishii Makes Address
While discussing the general draft
of the note as Arthur ]. Balfour pre-
sented it, Viscount 1shii is said to have
made q speech which renders it easy
for the Council to displa. q con-
ciliatory spirit toward America. The
reply, therefore. will be couched in the
most courteous terms.
1t will deal with toe questions raised
by President Wilson on somewhat
might warrant. The Council, it is un-
derstood, does not take a completely
negative attitude regarding the man.
dates and offers to ask the Supreme
Council for more information on this
subject. 1t feels bound to point out,
however, that this is question which
might be settled in the Supreme Coun-
ci. of the Allied and Associated Nations.
IL has no information which leads it
to think America is not still member
CT the Council, unusually described as
that of the Principal Allied and Asso-
ciated Powers.
Will Halt Other Mandates
The Council does not admit Amer
ica's claim that the Supreme Council
could not, if America chose to absent
herself, dispose of the German colonies
without her consent, but it expresses
full willingness to take no further
steps toward fixing the terms of the
and B mandates until America has
had an opportunity to express its views.
1t is of the understanding that Amer
ica will in due course have an opportu-
nifty to express its views. either by
discussions with the Council of the
league or at the Supreme Council OF
the Allied and Associated Powers.
This may be assumed as general fore
cast of the tenor of the note, although
it is doubtful whether the phrases will
be precisely like those mentioned here.
Asked upon leaving the council
meeting tonight whether the note con-
tained any practical suggestion Cor the
solution of the Yap controversy, Paul
Hymans. Of Belgium, said: 81 can't
say anything. The note is not yet
finished"
Nevertheless. at late hour tonight,
it was reported that although Balfour's
original draft was covered with many
crosses and patches of additions and
alterations of phraseoiogy. numerous
passages were almost in the state
wherein they will be taken up for re-
view tomorrow.
League Entry Not Debated
One of the features of the note is
that 1t makes no attempt to enlarge
discussion between America and the
league beyond the questions actually
in hand. The council considered that
it was in no wise the proper policy to
appear to use the present occasion to
drag America into a discussion of her
entry into the league, although it was
the opinion that once America begins
negotiations she will be drawn inevi-
tably into the league. There is even
reason to believe that the Mesopotamia
Yap and Costs Rican affairs are part of
that she is in a dangerously isolated
position unless she enters the league
LONDON, Feb. 28 (By The Associated
Press).-The; reply of the British gov
ernment to the most recent note Of the
United States concerning Mesopotamlan
oil will be sent to Washington tonight
IT. wac nficiallv anrouncad TO-DAY