The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-07
TEXT OF U. s. NOTE
 DEMANDING RIGHTS
 AS ALLIED POWER
(Continued from Page OneJ

garding the island of Tap, and had taken the position that it should not be assigned under mandate to any one power but should be international for i cable purposes. l assumed that this DO sition would be duly considered in con necuon with the cable question and that It therefore was no longer a matter of | consideration in connection with the peace negotiations I never abandoned or modified this position in respect to the island of Tap and I did not agree or May ', 1913. or at any other time that the island of Tap should be included in the assignment of mandates to Japan
 As a matter of fact, all agreements 1 arrived at regarding the assignment of mandates were conditional upon a sub sequent agreement being reached as to the specific terms of the mandates and | further, upon their acceptance by each i of the principal allied and associated powers. The consent of the United States is essential both as to assignment of mandates and the terms and provl- sions of mandates after agreement as to tEeir assignment or alIocation.
 The consent of the United States as you know, has never been given on either point as to the island of Yap.'
 NO CESSION OF RIGHTS
 Apart from the expressed purpose of President Wilson in relation to the is- proceed inBs of the supreme council on May ' 1913, did not and in the nature of things should not have finality, this government IS unable to perceive any ground for the contention that it was the duty of this government to make immediate protest With respect to the so-called decision of May ', 1919, and certainly it cannot be said that an omission to do so operated as cession of it's rights. 1t may ie added, however, that when the matter was brought to the attention of this government in connection with the con ference on communications in October last this government informed the gov ernment of Japan and other governments tby notes of November 9, 192o), that it was the understanding of this govern ment that the island of Tap was not in- cluded in the action of May r. 19l9
 Its position was subsequently, stated at length
 It IS a cause of regret to this govern ment, that after and despite this protest, there should have been any attempt to pass upon drafts of mandates purporting to deal with the Pacific islands, including Tap, and that a mandate should have been approved or attempted to be put in effect, which, while purporting to be made in the name of the United States, vas without the assent of the United States. This government trusts that this action which it must assume was taken under misapprehension, will be recon sidered.
 CAN'T RECOGNIZE MANDATE
 In particular, as no treaty has ever been concluded with the United States re- lating to the Island of Tap, and as no one has ever been authorized to cede or surrender the rights or interest of the United States in the island, this govern ment must insist that it has not lost its right or interest as it existed prior to any action of the supreme council or of the League of Nations, and cannot recognize the allocation of the island orAthe validity of the mandate to Japan.
 "In this view this government deems it to be unnecessary at this time to con slider the terms of the so-called e man dates, or the discussion with respect thereto.
 This government, as has been clearly stated in previous communications. seeks no exclusive interest in the Island of Tap and has no desire to secure any privileges without having similar priv leges accorded to the powers including, or course, Japan, and relying upon the sense Of justice of the government of Japan and of the governments of the other allied and associated powers, this government looks with confidence to disposition of the matter whereby the just interests of all may be properly con served"