Evening journal., 1921-03-25
Uncle Harry Talks About
the Island of zap

Uncle Harry. why has there been
80 much news in the paper lately
about that little island called Yap.
way down in the Pacific ocean. that
] guess hardly anybody ever heard
OF before the war;" asked Joe.
For this reason" said Uncle
Harry. This little island OF zap,
while It contains only about eighty
square miles Of land-which makes
1t less than one-fifteenth the size
Of Rhode Island, our smallest State
and while It has a population OF
only 1000, is a cable station along
the line Of submarine cables connect
ing the United States with the Far
East
Before the war. this island be-
longed to Germany, which country
purchased It from Spain in 1899.
Soon after the great war started,
Japanese warships arrived at Yap
and Japanese soldiers took posses
sion of the island
when the peace conference was
cisposing of Germany's various pos
sessions, Japan, It appears, was
given a mandate over the Island Of
zap, which practically means that
Japan was put in charge Of the
i9iand and made a guardian over its
affairs At that time and later Mr..
Wilson. who was then President,
objected to this decision OF the
Peace Conference"
why Mr.. Wilson Opposed the Peace
Conference Decision.
hn
Island Of zap given to the United
States?" asked Helen.
mo" replied Uncle Harry, "Mr
Wilson thought that because OF the
importance Of Yap to all nations
in view OF the connecting cable sta
ton located here, that the Island
should not be given over to any one
particular country. but be interna-
tionailzed and governed by the
League Of Nations for the use OF all
nations. The Peace Conference, on
the other hand. thought that the
cable station itself could be inter-
nationalized but that the Island
should be under the control Of
Japan. Since this original decision
was reached. the Supreme Council
CT the League has shown a disposi-
ton to consider further the final dis
position OF the island and has re-
ferred the whole question TO the
international Communications Con-
ference. which has been holding
meetings recently in Washington. 1t
has been the news OF these meetings
that has again brought the Island
OF Yap into the news OF the day.
A Plnce Rarely Visited.
ASIDE from its Importance as 9
cable station. the Island OF YaI
really means nothing to the rest Of
the world. The land Is rocky. Abou
the only things OF any value tina
grow on the island are groves o
bamboo trees and cocoa palms TIL
natives. who belong to the Mala,
race. get much of their food from
the FISH found in the surrounding
waters The island is outside Of thu
routes followed by the steamship
that travel back and forth across
the Pacific.
people rarely visit Yap and II
fact It was almost forgotten by thu
world at large until 1855, wheI
some German navigator visited tn
island and claimed to take posses
sion OF It for his country. This Lee
10 a protest on the part OF Spain
which claimed 10 have owned tn
ieland for several hundred years
The trouble was finally adjusted b,
Germany paying Spain about 81,
eco 900 and acquiring ownership o
Yap and the other nearby island
which comprise the Caroline grour
with the exception OF the Island O
Guam. which came into the posses
sion OF the United States as the re
suit OF the Spanish-American War.
Editors Note-Uncle Harry wi
be glad to answer inquiries. ad
dressed to him. car OF the editor
either in this column or by mai
provided letters are signed with tn