The Washington herald., 1921-04-15
new FRENCH NOTE
SEEN AS SIGN OF
POLICY CHANGE
France, Lacking Conf
dence in English Sup
port, Turns to U. S.
Special cabls to The Washington Herald
and United Press.)

Special cabls to The Washington Herald
and United Press.)
PARIS. April 1.-THE informal
French note to the United States
regarding Americas protest on the
mandate for the Island of Yap is
viewed here as the first expression
of France's/ new pro-American pol
icy adopted in the expectation of
s-rsciprocal---fEisn strong
enough to help in the exaction of
reparations from Germany. Even
IL the United States gave only her
moral support to the claims Of
France, 1t would be much appre-
ciated here.
France is not really confident Of
England's whole-hearted support of
the program of penalties to be ex-
acted in case Germany defaults in
her payments on May / and is there
fore casting about for aid from
whatever source it may be enlisted.
If the United States will give her
free hand in the pursuit of repa-
rations, France win be quite willing
to give the United States a free
hand in the Pacific and to cooper
ate for the modification of such
mandates as that for Mesopotamia.
Watching yiyiani.
There have been many sugges-
tions in well-informed quarters
mere that this policy be adopted
ana balloons have been released
from time to time to test the wind.
Evidently BRAND has now decided
10 embark on the scheme, and is
giving earnest consideration to the
reports that Rene Viviani sends as
to the best way of winning America,
should the United States be won
over she could be played off against
England with the result, so dipIo-
mats IN favor of the scheme believe
that England would be forced to
ADOPT more friendly attitude and
become more responsive to the de-
sires OF France, especially in the
matter OF supporting her claims
against Germany.
unAstFhtiOu encouraged,
President Harding and Secretary
Hughes are encouraged over the
French note in reply to the recent
American note to the four principal
allied powers regarding the jap
anese mandate over the Pacifc
Island of Yap.
Premier Brands promise to place
the Hap question before the su-
preme council at it's next meeting,
Washington regards as a forerun-
ner of acceptance by France of the
principle laid down by the United
States that it had not surrendered
any of its rights in the former Ger
man overseas possessions.
The French note, however. may
mean delay in the formulation of
the treaty program by the United
State. Although President Harding
hopes to be. able to submit to the
Senate a revised, form of the Ver-
sailles treaty stripped of all pro-
visions which interfere with Ameri-
can rights and interests. he cannot
do 1t unless the allies will recog-
nize the rights of the United States
in the German overseas. possessions
as described in Secretary Hughes
note. =,
France now says that the Ameri-
can note cannot be finally answered
until the supreme couEcil meets.
The reason assigned is that the
powers in acting en- the Yap man
date did so jointly and that u. re-
vision or reversal of their action
sought by the United States must
necessarily be considered jointly.
Little more than France has said
in her preliminary report can be ex-
pNcted from the other powers in
volved until the supreme council
meets Another session is expected
either in May or June.
Negotiations with the powers,
however. need have no restraint
upon Congress in adopting the peace
and the Foreign Relations
plans to take up the re-
vised Knox resolution today 1t
will not be reported TO the
until the Colombian treaty
10 hiSnnSad nf