Evening star., 1921-03-02
YAPS ALLEGATION
MADE BY PREM|ERS
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, March 2-The league OF ma
tons is not concerned win 'he a. o.
cation of the former German posss
sions in the PaCiic. which 1ncluues
the Japanese mandate for the group
TO which the Island of zap belongs.
the American government is inforneu
in the reply of the council OF Tue
league to the American note on the
mandate question.
The ALLEGATION was made by the su
preme council of the allies. the note
points out but the council invites the
United States to be represented at the
meeting of the council in May or June
when the other classes of mandates
are to be taken up for final declsion.
The council expresses Satlslactiot,
in the interest shown by the niteo
States government in the question OF
mandates which the council mas lohS
felt to be among the most lmporlaht
and also the most dlfhcuit.
The council" it adds. not ohlE
Welcomes. but feels JUSTIFIED IN claln-
ing the sympathy and support OF the
government which devised the scheme
the council is required to adinlnis-er-
The note begins with acknowledg-
ment of the receipt OF secretary
Colby's communication, summarizes
the American contentious, ana after
expressing the satisfaction OF the
council at the interest in the ques-
tion indicated by the note, continues:
The most fundamental contention
brought forward by the American
note is that The approval of the
United States of America is essential
10 the validity of any determination
which may be reached respecting
mandates which have been or may be
submitted to the Judgment of the
council.
The United States was one of the
leading actors, both in the war aud
in the negotiations for peace. TIM
rights which il acquired are not likely
to be challenged in any quarter.
"But the American government Will
itself recognize that the situation is
complicated by the fact that the United
States, for reasons which the council
would be the last to question, has so
far abstained from ratfying the peace
treaty and has not taken her seat on
the council of the league of nations.
1.-The council might easily have dwelt
on the controversial aspects of the
American note, but this procedure would
ill represent their true attitude. They
prefer to examine the subject from the
broad basis of international co-opera-
fion and friendship, in the belief that
this course will appeal to the spirit of
justice of the government and people OF
the United States"
In referring TO the poStponement of
the consideration by the council of the
mandate for the former Turkish pos
sessions, including Mesopotamia, which
would result in delay in final con-
tlusions until the United States had an
opportunity to express it's views, the
note. after inviting the United States TO
take part in the discussions of these
mandates and the African mandates.
says:
"A problem so intricate and involved
as that of mandates can hardly be
handled by an interchange of formal
notes. 1t can only be satisfactorily
solved by personal contact and by the
direct exchange of opinion. Not only
do such direct negotiations, which
correspond to the true spirit of the
league of nations, effect an increase of
freedom, fiexibility and speed, but they
create a spirit of mutual good will
and cooperation among the people
meeting around the same table"
After pointing out that the council
is without the same liberty of action
regarding the mandates for the Pacific
as in the case of the other types, the
note continues:
THE main American objection in
this case, it is understood from your
excellency's note. is to the effect that
the Island of Zap was included by
the council in the mandate given
that the United States has on several
occasions refused to agree to the al
location of this island to any one
, state.
1ne cOunCll OF the league OF ma
tions would remind your excellency
that the ALLEGATION of all inundated
territories is a function of the supreme
council and not of the council of the
league.
THE league is concerned not with
the ALLEGATION but with the adminis-
tration of these territories.
, Having been notified in the name
of the allied and associated powers
that all the islands north of the eQua-
tor had been allocated to Japan, the
council of the league merely fulfilled
its responsibility of defining the terms
of the mandate. Consequently, if
misunderstanding exists as to the al
la-ation OF the Island of Yap that
misunderstanding would seem to be
between the United States and the
principal allied powers rather than
between the United States and the
league.
, However. in view of the American
contention. the council of the league
has hastened to forward the Ameri-
can note to the governments of
france, Great Britain, Italy and
Japan.
The council hopes these explana-
tions Will prove satisfactory. to the
United states government and that
reciprocal good will find a solution in
harmony with the generous spirit
which inspired the principle of man
dates"