Norwich bulletin., 1921-04-08
Prolonged ParIeys
 on Mandates Likely
Four Powers are Expected to Exchange Views Before Re plying to Secretary Hughes Note.

, Washington, April ' CBy the A P.).-| Administered Jion officials, it may be stated with authority, confidently expect the al- lied governments to accept the principle restated by Secretary Hughes in his notes of last Monday to those governments that the United States has surrendered none of its rights in the overseas possess sions of Germany and that it cannot be bound by decisions affecting those possess sions made by the league of nations without its assent.
 There is reason to believe that the cor respondence on this subject, which was initiated last November will not be closed with the receipt of the replies from the Japanese, British. French. and Italian foreign offices If the expecta- tions of American officials are realized, the details regarding American rights will have to be worked out in negotia- ton. In the event, however. that the four powers do not find their way to an agreement with the American viewpoint, there would materialize situation action which officials refused to forecast.
 | The Shantung settlement in the peace treaty, which has been sharply criticized l in this country, is not at issue in the | present controversy. It is learned that | the phrase overseas possessions" in the American communications was used ad- l vlsedly and it is pointed out that Shan-
 tung was not g, German possession Kiao. Chow, also a part of that Chinese prov.
 lnee, was held by Germany through a concession from the Chinese goveriime mt
 The view of the Harding administra tior
 with respect to the Shantung settlement
 has not been stated, but this settlement
 was vigorously opposed by the presen administration leaders in the senate whiI, the treaty Of Versailles was under con sideration.
 The latest American notes are knowl
 to form third chapter, at least, in tn,
 diplomatic exchanges with the allie,
 governments on the subject of mandate
 Tn general and the Pacific island of Yal
 Tn particular. The American viewpoin
 was first stated by Secretary Colby il
 notes to the four great powers on las
 Nov. 9, and subsequently, was supple
 mented in d note to the council of tin
 league of nations.
 The notes of Nov. 9 never have bee r made public, nor has it been disclose : whether the allied governments replie to them. The note sent to the leagu council wa referred by it to those gov , ernments, the council explaining tha , this was. proper course since it deal specifically with the Japanase mandat 2 to the island of YaD. which it was claim ed mas voted by the supreme council, c : the council of four, at Paris on May iSIS' while the peace treaty was bein g framed.
 Japan, however, has replied to at lea. : one of the American governments pr, l tests. It was received two days befol s the Harding administration came into O l iice and ill it Japan insisted upon i
 right to a mandate over the island of Va C by reason of the award of the supreu t council. There also have been repor
 that Japan made the further roirt th; r it's forces had captured this and oth. facihe lslanos from ,ile uv4 nl,.As ....4 t in the war.
 T Immediate replies from the four poy Q CTS to MT. Hughes communications al r. not to be expected. The issue raised co, 'l cerns each of those governments and r t plies probably will be forthcoming on + after exchanges between them.