The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-24
American Note Asks That Question of Japanese Man. date for Former German Islands North of Equator Re Submitted to New I1vesti- gation.
By Associated Press

can note respecting mandates occupied the council of the League of Nations throughout the day. The note was discussed in the strictest privacy and the council decided this evening to issue only a brief summary for pub- lication.
 The note deals specifically with
 the mandate attributed to the en-
 peror of Japan over sIi former
 German islands In the Pacific
 north of the equator. nnd ensfs att tention to the fact that the United
 States government hns never given
 its consent that the island of yap
 bc included In the territory under Jnpnnese mandate. The reserva- tion Is taken on the ground thnt Ynp has very important bearing
 in the matter of cnbte communicn-
 tions, and that no power can limit
 or control its use.
 The United States declares it.
 self not bound by the terms of the
 mandate. and nsl<s that the ques-
 ton he submitted to n new inves-
 tigation.
 Members of the council consider it necessary to confer with their gov- ernments regarding the American note. and. with this in view, they forwarded the text today. It Is, therefore, cons sidered unlikely that any decision will be reached at this session It was suggested this afternoon that the whole matter might be referred to the supreme council as, it is declared, that it was in reality that body which at tributed Tap along with other north ern Pacific islands to Japan, and this u ha rr;p ne Inf tn retary CoIby's note.
 Further than this. it is expected that the council will merely acknowledge receipt of the note and give assurance that 1t will be dealt with through the proper channels.
 Sir Erie Drummond. general secre- tary of the League of Nations, was the only person present not a member oe the council when the subject was un- der discussion.
 SUMMARY OF NOTE
 The summary follows:
 The government of the United States declares it seizes the occasion to send the council of the league q copy |of note addressed to Earl rurzor E British foreign minister, on Novem- Der 20 setting forth in detail the views of thes.Ilnited States on the re- responsibilities Of mandatory powsrs .g. "A copy of that note has been sent % the French and Italian goyarn- ments. The United States government draws the attention of the council to the request made in that note that tho projects of mandate intended for the society of nations before they were submitted to the council to be com municated to the United States gov~ |ernment, and that it have precise in- n nn ne x<r{v ,xIz tzr- the United States conditioned its ap- probation
 The United States government has received the text of the mandate at- tributed to the Emperor of Japan over all former German islands situ- ated in the Pacific ocean north of the equator, which text was approved by the council of the league December IT, in Geneva.
 "The United States government de- clares it has never given It's consent that the island of Yap be included in territories subjected to the mandate of. Japan It recalls that 1t has already |so informed the governments of Grea> Britain. France, Italy and Japan in- forming them at the same time that it's reservation rested upon the opinion -hat Tap enters necessarily into any project or system of practical conn munication by cable in the Pacific, and that no power can limit or control its use.
 Consequently. the United States government is moved to declare re- spectfully that it cannot regard ;tsele as bound by the terms of said mandate and desires particularly that note be taken of its protest against the decis- ion of the league council of December IT upon this question.
 At the same time. it asks the coun- cil. whose action resulted evidently from an inexact representation of .he facts to submit the question to a new investigation which an equitable soiu~ tion requires"