Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-19
JAP ATTITUDE
PASSIVE ON zap
MANDATE ROW
Toxic Papers Belief :
Official Reply Not
Yet Received
Last Note from Japan on Cues
tiOn Took Positive Stand
Directly Opposite That Of
United States-Council Ac-
ton in May

Washington, April 1S.-The Ameri-
can and japanese governments had
adopted equally firm attitude with re-
spect to the status Of the Pacific is
land Of zap. The diplomatic exchanges
between them on the subject is con-
tinuing. but those to date were made
public today both in Washington and
Toxic. They consist of two memoir
anda and three formal notes.
Japan in its last communication, re-
ceived here in the closing days Of the
Wilson. administration. insisted that it
had been awarded a mandate for the
island by the supreme council Of the
League of Nations at Paris on May Z,
1919, and that it could not agree with
the American contention that, ire
spective Of any award of mandate,
other nations should have free access
to the islands for the landing and OPP
GRAFTON of cables.
Hughes on April stated emphatically
that the United States could not be
bound by any action either of the SUI
preme council or Of the League of Ma
lions, and that as no one had ever
been authorized to surrender or cede"
the right of the United States in the
island the American government could
not recognize the ALLEGATION of the is
land, or the validity of the mandate
to Japan" The Japanese now have
this communication under considera-
ton. The governments of Great Bri-
in, France and Italy also have be-
fore them similar communications on
the subject dispatched by Mr.. Hughes
at the same time that the note to
Japan went forward. Exchanges be-
tween the four allied governments are
understood to be under way with
view to reaching, common accord be-
fore replying.
Meantime, however, France has sent
preliminary reply in which she states
that the matter is one for the supreme
council to consider at it's next meet
Ing in May and that when it comes
up she will approach it with a view to
finding a solution which will give ey-
cry satisfaction to the United States
The viewpoint of the Harding ad-
ministration, as explained today in
official quarters, is that the question
! of whether the Supreme Council did
actually award the island to Japan
on May Z, as contended by that coun-
try, and disputed by President Will
son and the state department, is Of
| secondary Importance
The important point at issue, it is
emphasized, is the recognition by the
Allied governments of the principle
laid down by Mr.. Hughes-that the
United States, as one of the prin-
clpal allied and associated powers,
has an equal right with the others
IN the former overseas possessions of
Germany and that those rights can
not be disposed of without the con-
sent of the American government.
Administration officers believe
that the soundness of this position
Will be conceded by it's former asso-
ciates in the war. With this prin-
ciple recognized, it is believed the
details as to the American rights can
be worked out without great diff
Guilty
Thus far there has been received
in Washington no official informa-
ton indicating what position Japan
Will take in its reply to Mr. Hughes
note. Press dispatches from Toxic
today, however, said the newspapers
there seemed to think that Japan
would adopt a passive attitude in
dealing with the mandate issue.
/ Japan, it was pointed out here
adopted a very positive attitude with
respect to zap in her last note
which was couched in plain Ian
guage. The imperial government
said in order for the United States
to maintain successfully its position
that the mandate for the island was
not awarded to Japan by the Su-
| preme Council, it would have to
prove not merely that reservations
with respect to it were made by
President Wilson, but also, that his
views were accepted by the council