The Washington times., 1921-04-18

This correspondence, some
tone, reveals that each govern
original position, and that each
way in the slightest to the conten
The United States is adamant in its
refusal to concede that Japan is en-
titled to exclusive possession of the
small, but highly important. island.
and japan has clung stubborniy to
the position that zap was awarded
her by the Allied Supreme Council
and that the matter Is thus a closed
| chapter so far as America is concern
ed.
The last communication from Jap
an. under date of February 90 Just
| on the eve of the retirement Of the
Wilson Administrations rather
ssarp In tenor and In spots inclines
| TO be somewhat ironical.
CALLS U. 3. UNREASONABLE.
Certain Of the theories advanced in
the American note of December 6 last
are referred to in the Japanese reply
or February Is as "extraordinary.
even unreasonable, In which NO one
would be likely to eeneur.- Another
| line OF argument pursued in the same
american note leads to a conclusion
which the Japanese government char
acterfzes as "wholly at variance with
the facts and cannot he thought hy
anyone to be conyincing.-
To this. Secretary of State Hughes
replied on April 8, rejecting the jap
| anese contentious in their entirety
! and setting forth that the Treaty Of
Versailles specifically states that
Germany surrendered her possessions
N A.
ISOLATED Powers"
1T will not be Questioned" said
the note, that one OF tine Principal
Allied and Associated Powers in
whose ravor Germany renounces her
rights and titles. is the United States"
Neither the Supreme Council nor
the League of Nations, Secretary
Hughes stated, has any right what
soever to speak for the United States
with respect to Yap or any other
matter.
The correspondence began on Mo-
vember o last with the dispatch by
the state Department OF a brief cable
gram setting forth that II was the
understanding OF this government
that President Wilson had made re-
| servations at the Peace Conference
concerning the Island of Zap, looking
to its Observation-Disclosures for cable
purposes.
REPLY FROM TOKYO.
This was followed on November 10,
ten days later, by a brief reply from
Tokyo, stating that the matter al
ready had been definitely decided by
the Allied Supreme Council, and that
the Japanese government would not
be able to consent to any proposition
which, reversing the decision of the
Supreme Council. would exclude the
Island of Yap from the territory COM
mitted to their charge"
Both of these communications were
very brief.
A few weeks later, on December @,
| the American State Department re-
Piled to the Japanese message with
a 1,500-word note, setting forth in de-
| Gail this Governments understanding
of the Yap affair. 1t stated at length
that President Wilson at the Peace
Conference had made repeated objec-
tions to the award of Yap to Japan.
and that 1t was his understanding,
as well as of the United States, that
the matter was left open for future
negotiation.
1t was further pointed out that as
a result of President Wilson's reser-
| vations. the final memorandum on
mandates drawn up by the council
on May Z. 1919, awarded Japan Ger
| rain" and not "all" of the former
German possessions north of the
| equator. This note of December C
concluded with this passage:
HOPES JAPAN WILL CONCUR.
II am directed by the President to
inform you that the Government of
the United States cannot agree that
the Island of YRp was included in
the decision of May Z, or in any other
agreement OF the supreme council"
| The hope was expressed that Japan
would see and concur In the Ameri-
can view that even II Yap should
Re assigned under mandate to Japan
all other powers should have free
and unhampered access to the island
for the landing and operation of
cables"
| Japan allowed more than two
months TO go by before making any
reply to this note Then. on February
~ she replied In 2.500-word note.
curt in tone. which stated that the
Tokyo government was unable to
follow" the American contentious.
IT was plainly intimated that ~
President Wilson had arrived at such
' an understanding regarding Yap he