The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-09
ALLIES ID AWAIT
 ]APAN'S ATTITUDE
 BEFORE DECISION
Full Exchanges Between Four Allied Governments Ex-
 pected Before They Re- ply to American Note
By Associated press

By Associated Presa
 Washington, April S.-Secretafy Hughes notes to the Japanese. British, French and Italian governments on mandates are being interpreted abroad, according to information in diplomatic circles here, as stating an advanced position of the American government. Some diplomats who have studied the text of the com munication to Great Britain, as made by the state department, are apprehensive that it may be considered as reopening the whole subject of mandates
 Full exchanges between the four gov ernments are expected before any one of them replies to Mir. Hughes. In the opinion of some diplomats here, Ja- pans attitude will determine the position to be taken by Great Britain and France and possibly also Italy. This is based upon the agreement entered into by Great Britain and France with Japan in 1916, before the United States entered the war, whereby Japan was to receive the German islands in the Pacific north ot the equator.
 BOUND BY PACT
 This agreement. it is explained. was made when the activities of the German submarines demanded reinforcement or the entente naval forces beyond their own resources to meet, and the opinion is advanced that since Japan fulfilled her part of the contract, Great Britain and France feel bound to carry out the agreement if Japan insists If Japan is willing to modify its position with re- gard to these islands, and particularly to the Island of Yap, however, the view of diplomatic observers here is that the European allied governments will gladly accept that solution.
 In a way, the present situation is re- garded as somewhat similar to that ob- taining when Italy insisted upon invok- ing the treaty of London in justifica- tion of her claims in the Adriatic sec tion. Both Great Britain and France claims In the matter of Flame, but let it be known thataif Italy insisted they would execute the provisions of the treaty of London, obnoxious as they were to the United States.
 The Adriatic settlement was brought about through direct negotiations be- tween Italy and Jugo-Slavia, and it was thus found unnecessary to invoke the provisions of the secret treaty made by the European allies before the United States became a beligerent.
 y AGREEMENT DISCUSSED
 In the case of the treaty of London it was asserted that President Wilson was ignorant of it's existence before his ar rival in Paris for the peace conference. but the entente contention is under stood to be that the nature and extent of the agreement with Japan was dis cussed in Paris in connection with the peace treaty.
 The present situation may raise tho question of what the records of the coun- ell of four at Paris really showed. Presi- dent Wilson has said that he did not agree to the Japanese mandate for the Island of Tap, but others who were represented in the council of four arc understood to contend that there are rec ords in existence which show that MT Wilson made objections in the course of arguments. but they were not expressed in the vote that awarded the mandate.
 Under the mandate claimed to have been granted by the council of four PsAyoA>-~ Yap. 1t having accepted the mandate with reservations. The position Japan will take in replying to Mir Hughes note cannot now be forecast. It has insisted upon its right to control of the island in correspondence which previously has passed between 1t and the United States
 This correspondence has been published only in a fragmentary form, but it has been the understanding that Japan ex- pressed willingness to meet the wishes of the United States so far as the matter of landing a cable at Yap was concerned, provided such concession was not taken to question the right of Japan to administer tho affairs of the island un- der her exclusive mandate.
 President Wilson has stated that he in sisted at Paris upon the internationaliza ton of Yap and this Is known to have neen the attitude of the American gov ernnnent at the international communica- tfons conference here
 The council of the League of Nations in replying to the original protest of the American government regarding Yap and tho British mandate for Mesopotamla' suggested that the United States send a representative to the meeting of the coun- c;, next month when the status of the mandates is taken up. It has been he'd that America can accept this invitation without sacrificing her objection to sen- terjne the league. but administrators officials have refrained from indicating what action would be taken on the in- vitation. f
 Although Mir. Hughes notes were ad- dressed to the four allied powers indi- viduallv. if is herev~s -~-os tha. tre re. snonses will be in the form of identic notes. somewhat in lne with those un changed in effecting the Chinese con sortium.