Evening star., 1921-02-24
Note Claims Equal Interest in :
AIlocating of German For
eign Possessions.
PROTESTS GIVING TOXIC
MANDATORY OVER YAP
Island Is Important Link in Cables
Across Paciic-Asks Re
consideration.
By the As<ocia.od p,n.s

By the Associated Press
PARIS. February 24.-The United
States government, in its note to the
council of the league of nations on the
question of mandates, claims an equal
concern and interest with the other
principal allied and associated powers
In the overseas possessions of Germany
and in their disposition. This was
shown today when the note sent by the
American State Department, which
was laid before the council Of the
league yesterday. was made public
The council again took up the note
this morning. considering it with par
ticular reference to this claim advanced
by the United States. Some Of the
other members held that America had
as an associated power, from the su.
preme council
In the summary of the note, which
was made public Wednesday, it was
revealed that the United States de-
clared 1t had never given its consent
link in the chain of cable communities
tions in the Pacific. be included in the
territories subjected to the mandate Of
Japan.
Position II Made Clear.
The principal feature of the note, in
addition to the points contained in the
summary. was the American contention
Of equal right and interest in dispos-
ing OF Germany's overseas possessions.
On this the note said:
"As one Of the principal allied and
associated powers. the United States
has equal concern and inseparable in
terest with the other principal allied
and associated powers in the overseas
possessions of Germany, and conse-
Quently an equal voice in their dis
position, which, it is respectfully SUBJ
mitted. cannot be undertaken or ef-
fected without it's consent"
Referring to the attribution Of the
Island of zap to Japan. the note reads:
while this government never as
sented to the inclusion Of the Island
of Yap in the proposed mandate to
Japan. 1t may be pointed out that
even II one or more of the other prin-
cipal allied and associated powers
were under misapprehension as to the
inclusion of the island in the reported
decision OF May z. 1919. nevertheless
United States government makes clear
its position.
Ne Agreement ReaeAeA.
PRESUMABLY the notes referred to
comprised that sent by the United
States to Great Britain on November
20 last, with the copies. submitted to
the French and Italian governments.
The notes set forth the American po-
sition on the responsibilities of man
datory powers. The. Japanese man.
date was approved by the council Of
the league December IL in Geneva-)
"At the time when these notes were
addressed to the respective govern
ments above mentioned. an agreement
had not been reached on the terms OF
the ALLEGATION Of the mandates cover
ing the former German islands in the
Pacific. Therefore. the position taken
by the President on behalf of this gov
ernment, clearly set forth. necessarily
had the result of effectively with
drawing any suggestion or implication
Of assent mistakenly imputed to this
government long before December IL,
1920. the date of the councils meeting
in Geneva"
The American note occupied the
note was discussed in the strictest
privacy.
May Require Conference.
Members of the council consider it
necessary to confer with their govern
ments regarding the American note.
and. with this in view, they forwarded
the text yesterday. 1t is. therefore,
Will be reached at this session. It was
suggested that the whole matter
might be referred to the supreme
as it is declared that it was in
reality that body which attributed
Yap. along with other northern Pacific
islands, to Japan, and this was the
point raised in Secretary
Colby's note.
Further than this, it is expected that
the council will merely acknowledge
receipt Of the note and give assurance
that it will be dealt with through the
proper channels.
Sir Eric Drummond, general secre-
tary of the league OF nations, was the
only person present not a member Of
the council when the subject was
under discussion. The summary fol-
lows:
'aThe government Of the United
States declares it seizes the occasion
to send the council of the league q
copy Of a note addressed to Earl
Curzon british foreign minister) on
November 20, setting forth in detail
the views of the United States on the
OF mandatory powers.
"a copy of that note has been sent
to the French and Italian govern
ments. The United States government
draws the attention Of the council to
The request made in that note that the
projects of mandate intended for the
society Of nations. before they were
to the council, be communi-
Gated to the United States govern
ment, and that it have precise indica-
lions of the principles on which the
United States conditioned its appro-
baton.
Has Received Mandate Text.
"The United States government has
the text of the mandate at
tributed to the Emperor OF Japan
over all former German islands sit
mated in the Pacific ocean north of
tha eouator. which text was approved
hw the council of the league Decem-
her IL in Geneva. The United States
declares it has never
piven it's consent that the Island Of
Van he included in territories sub
iecfed to the mandate of Japan. It
recails that 1t has already 30 In
formed the governments of Great
Rritain. France. Italy and Japan. In
farming them at the same time that
rs reservation rested upon the opin-
ion that Yap enters necessarily into
anv project or system of practical
by cable in the Pa
eific and that no power can limit or
Control it's use.
Is moved to declare re-
.nectfully that it cannot regard it.
self as bound by the terms of said
and desires particularly
hat note be taken of its protest
against the decision of the league
council of December IL upon this 5.
question.
"At the same time It aAlxs the
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