The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-18
JAPS STAND PAT

former German islands north of the
equator to Japan and that the ques-
ton of zap was reserved until a fu-
ture date so that an agreement could
be reached for its internationalizatio
as a cable station.
The Japanese reply, dated Novem-
Der 10, stated that the Japanese
government would not be able to con-
sent to any proposition which, re-
Versing the decision of the supreme
council, would exclude the island of
Yap from the territory committed to
their charge"
The next note is a long account Of
the American position sent by Acting
Secretary of State Norman H. Davis
on December 6. This said there
would appear to be no difference of
opinion with regard to the reserva-
tions made by President Wilson and
Mr. Lansing with respect to the is
land of zap during the various dis,
cussions OF the supreme council and
the council of foreign ministers at the
peace conference"
Four Dates Cited.
The note cites four separate dates
April 81, 1919; April so, 1919; May
1 and May 6-on which President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing served
notice of the reservation that zap
should not be included in The Pacific
islands TO be awarded Japan as
mandatory.
There is attached" the note de-
cIared, las an appendix to the min
utes of the meeting of May Z, menu
orandum which obviously purported
to be a codification of the agreement
reached in the meeting of May with
reference to the north Pacific Islands
Upon this, we understand, is based the
assertion that zap was assigned IN
der mandate to Japan. Even this.
however does not expressly include
I. 41ray- rrafE
CORY, altho the qualifying word GER
TAIN is omitted. The minutes quoted
the memorandum with the statement,
merely, that the following decisions
were reached The erroneous publi-
cation of such a decision of which this
government was not aware would not
validate it.
THE president recollects no propo-
sal offered in this meeting to change
the decision of May 6 and is certain
he agreed to no variance of the origi-
nal proposition
U. S. Note Mandatory.
Il am directed by the president to
inform you" the note concludes, that
the government of the United States
cannot agree, that the island of zap
was included in decision of May or
in any other agreement of the supreme
council. And in addition that, as the
Island of Yap must form an indis-
pensable part of the international
communications, it is essential that its
I free and unhampered use for such
purposes should not be limited or con-
trolled by any one power.
| Even on the assumption that the
! island of zap should be included
! among the ISLANDS held under mandate
| by Japan, it is not conceivable that
| other powers should not have free and
unhampered access to and use of the
island for the landing and operation
of cables. This is a right which the
| United States would be disposed to
grant upon any of it's unfortified
islands which may be essential for
such purpose"
The Japanese reply to this note
stated that the Japanese delegates
were not present at the meetings of
/ the supreme council of April 81. May
! 6 and May Z. and that 'ip consequence
the imperial government has no
| means of ascertaining what views
We're expressed by the American dele
gates at those meetings"
Assuming, however. that President
! Wilson and Secretary Lansing pre-
viously had stated that zap should be
| internationalized, the Japanese note
confines that 'in the opinion of the
| imperial government such fact ar
CUES in no way in favor of the conten-
| ton of the American government that
! the Island of zap stands outside the
| islands that it was decided should be
held under the mandate by Japan I'M
! less they can establish at the same
time the further fact that the repre-
! tations of President Wilson and Mr..
Lansing were accepted by the council
and the latter decided to exclude Yap
from the mandatory territories. as
signed to Japan
Referring to the view of the Ameri-
! note that if Van had hapr1 i'm dafJ
| in the supreme councils decision that
! decision would have been in more spe-
| cific language,-the Japanese, reply
which is the fourth note states that
lit is more in accordance with sound
| principles of Interpretation to saw that
the fact should have been set down
with especial clearness if exclusion
were meant, as an exception always
requires to be stated definitely"
Japs Claim Support.
| The Japanese note then makes this
| important point:
Nor is the imperial government
1 alone and unsupported in their inter-
/ probation of the decision for they are
in receipt of authentic information
that the governments of Great Britain
and France being of the same opinion
as the Japanese government on the
matter made statements to that effect
in their replies to the American note
in November last
ITO sum up" the note continues
since in a matter of such a grave ma
ture as the establishment of manda-
tory territories only What appears or
the face of the decisions should be ac-
cepted as authoritative, the imperial
government cannot agree in giving al
extraordinary and unusual interpreta-
ton to the decision on vague ground
that certain thoughts and intention;
not expressed in the text thereof ex.
listed in the mind of the delegate OF
one power only
The japanese note says that the
American proposal that even shoult
zap be given under a japanese man.
datory the island should be open Il
all nations as a cable station, is a cues
ton which seems to be one which
should be freely settled by the natior
which has the charge of the place
namely. Japan"
To Decide Harvest Wage Scale.