New-York tribune., 1921-04-09
Japan's Wish
On Yap Will
Guide Allies
Diplomats Assert Entente
Will Consider Itself
Bound by Promises Be-
fore u. S. Entered War
To Yield if Toxic Does
Mandate Issue Is Regarded
in European Circles as
Like Fiume Question

WASHINGTON, April (By The IS
sociated Prcss).-Secrctary Hughes's
notes to the Japanese, British, French
and Italian governments on mandates
are being interpreted abroad, accord
ing to information in diplomatic circles
here, as stating an advanced position
OF the American government. Some
diplomats who have studied the te.. t
of the communication to Great Britain.
as made public by the State Depart
ment, are apprehensivc that it may be
considered Is rcopening the whole
subject of mandates.
Full exchanges between the four
governments are expected before any
one of them replies to Mr.. Hughes. In
the opinion Of some diplomats here,
Japan's attitude will determine the
position to be taken by Great Britain
and France and possibly also Italy. This
is based upon the agreement entered into
by Great Britain and France with
Japan in 1916, before the United States
entered the war, whereby Japan was to
receive the German islands in the
Pacific north of the equator.
This agreement, it is explained, was
made when the activities Of the Ger
man submarines demanded a reinforce
ment or the Entente naval forces be-
Nond their own resources to meet. and
the opinion is advanced that since ia
pan fulfilled her part Of the contract.
Great Britain and France feel bound to
carry out the agreement if Japan in
sists. If Japan is willing to modify
Its position with regard to these ISL
ands, and particularly the Island of
Iap, however, the view of diplomatic
observers here is that the European
Allied governments will gladly accent
that solution.
Like Adratic Disputes
In way the present situation is re-
garded as somewhat similar to that
obtaining when Italy insisted upon in
Yoking the treaty Of London in justif-
cation Of her claims in the Adriatic
section. Both Great Britain and France
sought to induce Italy to abate her
claims in the matter of Fiume, but let
1T be known that if Italy insisted thew
would execute the provisions of the
treaty of London obnoxious as those
were to the United States.
The Adriatic settlement fnallv was
brought about through direct negotia-
uons between Italy and Jugo- Slavia
and 1t was thus found unnecessary to
invoke the provisions of the secret
treaty made by the European Allies be.
tore the United States became bel
lgerent
In the case of the Treaty OF London
it was asserted that President Wilson
was ignorant of its existence before
his arrival in Paris for the peace con-
terence, but the Entente contention is
understood to be that the nature and
extent OF the agreement with Japan
were discussed in Paris in connection
with the peace treaty.
The present situation may raise the
question of what the records of the
Council of Four at Paris really show.
President Wilson had said that he did
not agree to the Japanese mandate for
the island of zap, but others who were
represented in the Council of Four are
understood to contend that there are
records in existence that what obiec-
tions Mr.. Wilson made were in the
course of arguments and not expressed
IN the vote that awarded the mandate.
Japan's Position Unknown
The position Japan will take in re-
plying to Mr.. Hughcs's note cannot
now be forecast 1t has insisted upon
Its right to control of the island in
correspondence which previously has
passed between it and the United
States.
;, rms espondence has been pub
ilshed only in fragmentary form. but
u has been the understanding that
Japan expressed willingness to meet
the wishes of the United States so far
as the matter of landing a cable at