Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-18
JAPAN'S NOTE
ON YAP ISLAND
IS MADE PUBLIC
Says Supreme Council MUSK
Decide in Favor Of the
United States.
Japs Declare Island Was
Placed Under Their Con- 4
troll by Council.

q =
Washington, April 1910 main.
tain its position with regard TO the
Pacific island of Yap, the American
government would have Ito prove
not merely the fact" that President
Wilson made reservations concerning I,
1t. but also that the supreme council
decided in favor Of these views" the
japanese government says in a note
under date of last February rs, made
public today by the state department
along with the other correspondents
between the two governments regard
ing 'Yap.
ut must also be remembered"
japan says, that ifaa decision in ia
vor of the exclusion of the Island Of
Yap-a question Of grave concern to
Japan and one on which the Japanese
delegation invariably maintained 4
firm attitude-had really been made
as it is' implied by the argument Of
the United States government, at tho
meet Of (the supreme council) May
Z. iS1e, at which Japan was not
represented. it could not but have
been regarded as an act OF entirely
bad faith"
1t was to this note that Secretary
Hughes replied last April S. at. tho
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 Japan's contention that hi
have Ito prove not only that Presi- '
dent Wilson made reservations re-
gardinE Yap, but also that the SUI
preme council adopted these views.
No Treaty Concluded. ~.
"Aa M freaf>- -oVov boax am.
cluded with the United States relating
to the Island of zap" Mr.. Hughes
added, ''and Us 40 one has over been
authorized TO cede or surrender the
right or interest Of the United States
in the island. this government must
insist that it has not lost it's right
or interest as it existed p-i0- to any
acticr of the supreme council Of tbs
League of Nations, and cannot reLug-
nize the ALLEGATION of the island or
the validity of the mandate to Japan
Japan has not as vet replied to this
communication, so that to date the
correspondence consists Of the two
notes quoted above. another formal
note sent by Acting Secretary Davis
last December by direction OF Pres
'ident Wilson and two memorandas
itiated last November after some
question Aaaf 81 at the meetings
here Of the International communtca-
tons conference concerning the ac-
ton Of the supreme council with re-
gard to Yap.
In the first memorandum, dated
November o. the secretary of state
said it was "the clear understanding
of the American government that the
supreme council at the previous re-
quest Of President Wilson had reserv-
ed for future consideration, the final
disposition of the island in the hope
that some agreement might be reach
ed 10 place it under international
control and thus render. it available
as an International cable station.
The Japanese foreign Office replied
was ''the definite understanding" Of
the japanese government that the
supreme council on May decided
finally to place under mandate OF
Japan all of the former German ISL
ands north of the equator; that deci-
sion involved mo reservations what
ever in regard to the Island of Yap."
and that therefore, the Japanese
government would not be able to
reversing the decision Of the supreme
council would exclude the Island OF
zap from that territory committee
to their charge
In response to this. Acting Secretary
Davis dispatched long formal note
to Toxic setting forth that the Ameri-
chn government could not agree that
zap was included in the decision Of
the supreme council of May {. 1919,
as claimed. and that even on the as
sumption that the island had been
included in the mandate "all Other
powers should have free access to
the island for the landing and opera
! ton cf cables"
Japan Should Settle.
| The Japanese reply on February :e,
said that if the observation OF the
Am merican government with regard 20
cables was put forth irrespective Of
the fact that the island was within
the mandatory territory "ther the
question seems to be one which
should be freely settled by the nation
which has charge Of the place, name
t ~. Japan"
The note went on to say that il the
Observable was made owing to the
nature of the mandate, Japan would
draw attention that at the meeting
OF the commission on mandates on
July 10. 1919. Colonel f. NJ. House,
one OF the American peace commits
claim that the same equal opportuni-
/ tiss for commerce and trade should
be guaranteed in territories of the
CO. class tsuch as the Pacific istands)
as in those belonging to the 'B" class
OF territories under mandate.
in view of the position thus taken
by the American delegate" the note
added. "the imperial government feels
obliged to state that in its opinion the
American government cannot, kh
justice contend for the opensdo6f In
the &C. class territories a9SAgainst
Japan and to inform the United
| States government at the same time
that they cannot consiHec themselves
bound in any way to recognize the
freedom of other nations in the man
Nner insisted upon by the American
government in regard to the landing
and operation of cables even in plac-
es where the principle of the open
door il to be guaranteed
Revertinr to its claim to the award
OF the mandate over Yap by the st-
Ipreme council. the Japanese govern
ment said the British government had
placed the same Interpretation on the
action OF the supreme council on
May Z. It also declared that It was
unable to understand why the United
States had waited for more than .
year and half to question the s.de-s
ctsion" Of the council, particularly n
view OF the publication of, the text ~
the s'deciGon" Ut Paris on Nay &. II
observed that the Anerican govern.
ment did not protest ct the time "
publication. although such q coursss
would nAturatly have heen expected
had the published teM not cOnf0rns&A
N the n ArAcan s,snA AerSt 4 Aiysw MfSsNo5