The Washington times., 1921-04-18


The Secretary of State to the
American charge d'affaires at Tokyo,
November 8, 1920:
During the recent sessions of the
communications conference some
question has arisen in regard to
the disposition of the Island of zap
by the supreme council. 1t has
been contended that this island
was included in the islands north
of the equator, which were offered
by action of the supreme council Of
May z. 1919, nder mandate to
Japan.
1T was the clear understanding
Of this Government that for reasons
vitality affecting international COM
munications, the supreme council.
At the previous request of President
Wilson. reserved for future con-
sideration the hnal disposition of
the Island of zap in the hope that
some agreement might be reached
by the allied and associated gov
ernments to place the Island under
international control and thus rem
der 1t available as an international
cable station. For this reason 1t
ment that the Island of Yap was
not included in the action of tho
supreme council on May Z. 1912"
The American charge d'affaires at
Tokyo to the Secretary of State.
November 10. 1920. transmitting
text of Japanese foreign Offices
note of same date:
have just received the following
memorandum from the foreign office
dated today:
standing of the Japanese govern
ment, the Supreme Council OF May
Z, 1919, came to a Anal decision TO
place under the mandate of Japan
the whole of the German islands
north of the equator. The decision
involves no reservation whatever in
regard to the Island of zap.
"For the aforementioned rea-
sons, the Department OF Foreign
Affairs begs to inform the United
States Embassy that the Japaaese
government would not be able to
consent to any proposition which,
reversing the decision Of the Su-
creme Council. would exclude the
Island Of Ynp from the territory
eonnitted to their charge
The Acting Secretary of State to
the American charge d'affdires at
Tokyo, December s, 1920, note COM
rpunicated to japanese foreign Of
flee, December 10, 1890:
''On April 81, at the meeting OF
President Wilson. Messrs. Lloyd
George and Clemenceau, President
Wilson, in reporting his conversa-
tion of that morning with Baron
Maxine and Count Chinda, stated
among other things that he mad
reminded the Japanese delegates
that 1t had been understood that
Japan was to have the mandate for
the islands in the north Pacific,
although he had made a reserve In
the case Of the Island of Yap, which
he considered should be interna-
tional.
LANSING ON CABLES.
AT the meeting of foreign
ministers held on April 80, 1919. at
3 p. M. in a discussion relating to
cables, Mr.. Lansing stated that
there was a relevant question which
he would like on future occasion
to discuss. namely, whether in the
interests Of cable communications IT
would not be desirable that the
Island of zap be internationalized
and administered by an interna-
tional commission in control Of
cable lines, and that he merely
raised the question, although not
on the agenda, in order to give
warning that The question was in
his mind and that he would pro-
pose it for discussion at later
time. He suggested that 1t was not
necessary to maintain that all the
islands should have the same status.
but that the Island of zap should
be held to constitute a special case.
"Baron Maxine took the position
that the status OF the Island OF Yap
should be decided before the oues-
tion of cables, Mr.. Balfour replying
that while the status OF the island
was a matter of great Importance,
he did not think that the question
OF cables could be deferred, as IL
must be settled in time for the treaty
with Germany; Germany could be
required to give up all title to the
island, and it's status thereafter
could be discussed among the allies.
"At meeting on May !, held in