Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-04-19
BLUNT JAP DENIAL.
Of j. 5. YAP CLAIM
Hughes Stand That Allies
Lack Right Dis
puted
TOXIC SEND CURT NOTE
Challenges Washington 10 Prove Case
Without Yielding Slightest Point
u. S. Inconsistent Is Insinuatlon

! Washington, April l9.-To maHn-
tain its position with regard % the
Pacific island of zap, the Amc.icai.
Government would have ito prove not
merely the fact" that President WI
son made reservations concerning Y,
but also that the Supreme Counc,!
: decided in favor Of those views"
This the japanese Government as
serts in a note under date Of last Feb
ruary 2G, made public yesterday by
the State Department along with the
other correspondence between the two
governments regarding zap.
at mus. also De remembered, jap
an says, that if decision in favCr
of the exclusion of the island of Iap
"a question of grave concern to Jap
an and one on which the japanese del
egat:on invariably maintained firm
attitude-had really been made, as i
is implied by the argument of the
Uni.ed States Government, at tne
meeting of (the Supreme Counci)
May 7 (1919), at which Japan was
net represented, it would not but have
been regarded as an act OF entirely
bad faith"
1t was to this ncte that Secretary
Hughes replied last April .. a. the
same time sending similar notes 10 tie
governments of GrE,t- Britain, France;
and Italy He declared that the Unit. d
States was unaoe to agree with
Japan's contention that in order to
maintain its position it would harc
"to prove" not only that President
Wilson made reservations regarding
zap, but also that the Supreme CouH-
eli adopted those views.
"As no treaty has ever been con-
cludei with the United States telat-
ing TO the island of Yap.' Mr.. HugneS
ADDED, land as no one has ever beer
authorized 20 cede or surrender tie
righ. or interest of the United States
in the island, this government mus
insist that it has not los. It's right OF
interest as i. existed prior to ny
action Of the Supreme Council or c1
the League Of Nations, ard canno,
recognize the ALLEGATION of the Island
or the validity Of the mandate &c
Japan"
Japan has not as yet replied u this
communication, so that to date the cor
respondence consists Of the TWO notes
quoted above, another formal note
sent by acting Secretary Davis last
December 6 by direction Of President
Wilson and two memoranda with
which the exchange were initiated las;
November after some question haG
arisen at the meetings hc:e o. the
International Communications Con-
ference concerning the action 81 the
Supreme Council with regard 70 zap.
In the first memorandum, dated Nc
yember 9, the Secretary of State SAID
it "was clear understanding" of the
American Government that the SD
preme Council at the previous request
of President Wilson had reserved toI
future consideration the final disposi-
ton of the island in hope that some
agreement might be reached to place
it under international contro! and
thus render it available as an inter
national cable station.
The Japanese Foreign Office replied
in memorandum under date OF NO
vember 10, that it was "t.le definite
understanding" of the japanese Gov
ernment that the Supreme Council on
May came to final decision &c
place under mandate to Japan al oi
the former German islands north n
the Equator; that the decision invol''
ed mo reservations whatever To
gard to the Island Of Yap' and tbs
therefore the Japanese Government
would net De able to consent TO an!
proposition which, reversing the de
cision cf the Supreme Council, vouc
exclude the Island of Zap from tn
territory committed to their charge
In response to this memorandum
Acting Secretary Davis dispatched
long formal note to Toxic, sett:n!
forth that the American Governn1en
Continued on page two)