The Washington times., 1921-04-18

stated that as the cable lines across
tho Pa ,ific passed through the Is
land of zap, which thus became q
general distributing center for the
lines of Communication for the north
Pacific, Yap should not pass into
tho hands of one power.
'Ih the meeting of May 8. in the
discussion regarding the allotment
of mandates in the Pacific, Mr..
Lloyd George expressed his under
standing that the Japanese should
receive a mandate for islands north
of the Equator. According to the
record. President Wilson consented
in principle to this. with an explana-
tory statement that with respect to
mandates the policy of the open door
would have to be applied. and that
there must be equal opportunities
for the trade and commerce of 9TH
er members Of the League.
"The Island OF Yap, having been
previously cited as q special case
for particular future consideration.
was not intended to be included
among the certain islands desig-
mated as available to Japan under
mandate. This seems obvious, as
Yap appears to have been the only
island north OF the Equator in re-
gard to the disposition OF which
there had existed any difference of
opinion. There Is no indication In
the minutes of any further discus
sion with regard to this island.
There is attached. as an appendix
to the minutes of the meeting OF
May z, 4:15 p. m, a memorandum
which obviously purported to be a
codifcation Of the agreement reach
ed in the meeting OF May with
reference to the north Pacific is
lands. Upon this, we understand.
is based the assertion that Yap was
assigned under mandate to Japan.
Even this, however. does not ex-
pressly include all the islands in
this particular category, although
the qualifying word certain is
omitted. According to the minutes
of this meeting. there was no dis
cussion whatever on May 7 in re-
spect to mandates. The minutes
quoted the memorandum with the
statement. merely. that the follow
ing decisions were reached The
erroneous publication OF such a de-
cision of which this Government
was not aware would not validate
It.
THE President recoliects no pro-
posai offered in this meeting to
change the decision OF May sixth
and is certain he agreed to no vsri-
ance OF the original proposition. He
understood 1t was generally agreed
that the Island of Yap had been
previously excluded and reserved
for future determination in connec-
tion with the consideration of cable
communications.
NO RECORD OF DISCUSSION.
I'm view of the Presidents re-
iterated objections to the inclusion
of zap in the mandate territories
10 be assigned to Japan, IT Is rather
striking that the minutes OF May
seventh do not include any discus
sion whatever regarding Yap, which
would have been most natural had
the President been prevailed upon
to recede from his previous firm DO
sition. 1t is most logical that the
withdrawal of the previously re-
corded objections would have been
noted or at least that the decision
would have been drafted in more
specific language. II would seem
clear thnt the President acted On
the assunption that the Island Of
YaP was not intended to be included
In the decisiona OF May Q and 2.
1T should also be noted that
President Wilson. on August 10,
1919, before the Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations made the fol-
lowing statement when questioned
concerning the status Of the Island
OF zap:
at is one OF the bases and cen
ters OF cable and radio communica-
tion on the Pacific, and l made the
point that the disposition, or rather
the control, of that island should
be reserved for the general confer.
ence which is to be held In regard
to the ownership and operation of
the cables. That subject is men,
toned and disposed OF in this treaty
and that general cable conference
is to be held
This statement evidences the un-
derstanding OF the President, and IL
is interesting that, though wide pub
licity was given to the Presidents
declaration at the time. no COM