The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1921-04-23
THE al

troll of the island of zap and to deny
the United States no only cable
rights, but the commercial open door,
in this and, other former German is
lands in the north Pacific, is disclosed
by the correspondence between Wash
ington and Toxic, made public by
Secretary OF State Hughes.
The last of the series of exchanges,
however. is Mr.. Hughes's trenchant
note demonstrating that inasmuch as
the United States has not ratified the
Versailles treaty 1t has not given its
assent to the ALLEGATION of the north
Pacific islands to japan or to the in
clusion In the mandate of zap, which
President Wilson reserved for inter-
naturalization.
The correspondence made public
begins with o note to Japan. Novem-
Der Q, 1920, pointing out that zap
was excluded from the mandate by
the Wilson reservation. Japan re-
piled, November 10. that zap was in
ciuded by the supreme council on
May 4, 1919, and there is no record
of q reservation. On December 6. the
acting Secretary of State rejoined
with a detailed account Of the VIII
son reservation.
japan replied on February 26 last.
that the American Government must
prove the supreme council accepted
The Wilson reservation.
1T must also be remembered" says
the Japanese note, that II a decision
in favor of exclusion of the island Of
Yap-a question of grave concern to
Japan and one on which the Japanese
delegation invariably maintained a
firm attitude-had really been made,
as il implied by the argument of the
United States, at the meeting Of May
z at which Japan was not represent
ed. It could not have been regarded
as an act Of entirely bad faith"
Five days after the receipt of this
note from Toxic. Mr.. Hughes took
the position that even II the basis of
Japan's contention were sound 1t
would be invalid for the reason that
the United States had never accepted
the treaty under which the supreme
council allocated the islands and the
league council approved the mandate
therefor. He had taken the pre-
caution to obtain from President Will
son, on March 8, a statement Of the
reservations he made. and this state
ment Mr.. Hughes incorporated in his
note Of April Q. recently published.
This Government must point out"
says the Hughes note, that as the
United has never vested either the
supreme council or the League Of Ma
lions with any authority to bind the
United States or to act on its behalf,
there has been no opportunity for
any decision which could be deemed
to affect the rights of the United
States. 1t may also be observed that
the right accruing to the United
States through the victory in which
it has participated could not be re-
garded - In any way coded or sur-
rendered to Japan. or to other ma
tions. except by treaty, and that no
such treaty has been made"
These notes. stripped Of all diplo-
matte verbiage. carry the fiat refusal
of Japan to consent to the interna-
ticnalization of zap and the equally
nat demand Of this government that
she do So. The situation is obvious
ly such that either Japan or the Uni
ted States will have to back down.
The Significance of recent identic
notes from Secretary Hughes to the
four principal allied powers, in which
he asserts the war won rights of this
Government in all the former Ger
overseas possessions. is now ap-
parent.
The attitude Of the administration
is that the moot question of whether
or not there were reservations or
whether an unauthorized body-the
supreme council-awarded certain
to Japan. does o relate to
the present situation. The outstand-
ing fact is that the United States has
In effect asked Japan:
will you or win you no assent to
the right of the government In Yap
and other inundated territory entire
ly apart from the proceedings of the
supreme council. and the minutes OF
meetings at which the United States
was not represented"
A significant aspect is given to the
situation by news dispatches from
Toxic. According to these dispatches,