The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-04-18
HUGHES REPLY
ON THE SUBJECT
NOT REPLIED TO
Secretary of State Notified
Japan That No Treaty
Had Been Concluded
With United States AS to
Island of Yap and No
One Had Been Author
lied to Cede U. S. Rights


maintain its position with regard to
the Pacific island of Yap, the American
government would have to prove not
merely the fact that President Wilson
made reservations concerning it but
also that the supreme council decided
in favor of those views, the Japanese
government SAYS in note under date
of last February 26, made public to-
day by the state department with the
other correspondence between the two
governments regarding Hap.
at must also be remembered. ia
pan SAYS, that ii a decision IN favor
Of the exclusion Of the island OF zap,
question Of grave concern to Japan
and one on which the Japanese invari-
ABLY maintained firm attitude-had
really been made. as it Is implied by
the argument of the United states
government. at the meeting of (the SUI
preme counciD May tl9l9l, at which
Japan was not represented, 1t could
not but have been regarded as an act
of entirely bad faith.
II was to this note that Secretary
Hughes replied last April 3, at the
same time sending similar notes to the
Governments Of Great Britain, France
and italy. He declared that the United
States was unable to agree with ia
pans contention that in order to main
tain its position II would have to prove
not only that President Wilson made
reservations regarding Yap, but also
that the supreme council adopted those
views.
"As no treaty has ever been con-
cluded with the United States relat-
ing to the island of zap" Mr.. Hughes
added. "and rs no one has ever been
authorized TO cede or surrender the
right of interest OF the United States
in the island. this government must in
sist that it has not lost its right or
interest as II existed prior to any. ac-
ton of the supreme council or OF the
league of nations, and can not rccog-
nize the ALLEGATION Of the island or
the validity of the mandate to Japan.
Japan Has Not Replied to Hughes
Note
japan has not a. vet replied to this
communication, so that 10 date the
correspondenee consists of the two
notes quoted above another note sent
p hv Acting Secretary Davis last Decem'
her g. bv direction Of President Viii
son and two memorandums with which
the exchange were initiated last NO
yember after some question had arisen
at the meetings here Of the interna'
tional communications conference, con
cerninc the action Of the supreme coun'
ell with regard to zap.
In the first memorandum. dated Nov
o the secretary Of state said il was the
clear understanding Of the American
government that the supreme council
at the previous request Of President
Wilson had reserved for future consid
Grafton and final disposition Of the Is
land in the hope that some agreement
might be reached TO place II under IN
ternational control and thus render i
available as an international cable sta
ton
The japanese foreign Office replied u
n memorandum under date Of Nov. ~
that it was "the definite understanding
of the Japanese government that th'
supreme council on Nav came to
final decision to place under mandate
TO .Iapan all of the former German IL
lands north Of the equator that th'
decision involved "no reservation
whatever in regard to the island o
Yapv and that therefore the japanese
government would not be able to con
sent to any proposition which, reyors
ing the decision Of the supreme coun
eli. would exclude the island Of Nal
from the territory committed to thei
charge
In response TO this memorandum
Acting Secretary Davis dispatched
long note 10 Toxic. setting forth tha
The American government could no
agree that Nap was included IN the de
cisian II the supreme council Of Ma!
: 1919. a. claimed aud that even ol
the assumption That the island ha,
been included in the mandate "all 9th
pr powers should have free access 4
the island far ihe landing AMI oper
alton Of cables.
The Japanese reply On Feb. p. sail
thai If the ohscrt ltinn nf the ArDari
csn government with regard % cable
wsS put forth irrespective ot the tae
ths' the island was within the man
dstory territory then thf quest'o
seem 20 l,e one uh-eh should he free
" settled hy the uation which Ia
rhsrc- ~ The place. namely, Japan
Tho note went on ta -av that q th
observation was made ou Ing 70 the ma