The Washington herald., 1921-04-14
Reconsideration of Amer.
lean Rights Will Come
First.
JAPANESE BRITISH
ALLIANCE DISLIKED
Allowance of u. s. Con-
tentions Must Precede
Treaty Dealings.
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.

ny ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
President Harding will take no
step in the direction of partial rati-
fication Of the Versailles treaty. un-
less the allied powers first recon-
slider their award of Yap Island to
Japan and acknowledge full Ameri-
can rights in the disposition of all
the confiscated territories of the
central empires.
This disclosure was made authori-
tatively yesterday, concurrently
with the introduction in the Senate
Of the Knox resolution declaring
peace with Germany, as revised and
approved by the President. BA
means of this resolution it is PLAN
ned to re-estabIish peace with Ger
many within the next three weeks.
Hughes Secs Reconsideration
Secretary of State Hughes is
known to be supremely confident
that the allies will reconsider their
denial of American rights in the
mandate territories. II. however,
they should persist in their course
Of resisting the American conten-
tions, the administration would re-
gard the attitude an insuperable OBJ
stacle to negotiations with the al
lies in regard to American ratifica-
tion of the reparations, economic
and other features Of the Versailles
treaty affecting the rights and in
terests of the United States.
The allies, according to the ad-
ministration view. would be solely
responsible for interposing obstacles
to American acceptance of any
part of the Versailles treaty and the
only feasible alternative would be
the negotiation of separate peace
terms with Germany.
Italy Favors U. $. Contentions.
Italy already has taken a posi-
tion favorable to the American con-
tentions, but Great Britain and
Japan have not answered the
Hughes note on Yap, and France
has replied with a suggestion that
this question be settled by Japan
and the United States. Mr.. Hughes
holds that the controversy is with
the allies jointly and he will enter
tain nc suggestion to deal with
Japan alone.
Nor will the administration con-
sent to the inclusion of the Yap
question in general negotiations to
settle all matters at issue between
the United States and Japan, as
Toxic is reported to contemplate
proposing. Mr.. Hughes regards the
zap and general mandate questions
distinct from all other issues, and
one in which the Allies are called
upon to undo jointly, what they have
done jointly in defiance of Ameri-
can rights.
Would Frown on Dual Alliance.
1t also has transpired that the
projected renewal of the Anglo
Japanese treaty next July, may be-
come involved in the conversations
between the United States and
Great Britain, if the Yap and gen
eral mandate question is not settled
to the satisfaction of. the United
States. The inference is that the
United States would view with dis
favor a renewed alliance of two
nations continuing to deny the
United States its just right.
II, however, the allies yield to the
United states in this controversy,
secretary Hughes will open negotia-
tions to determine the most feasible
means of accepting those parts of
the versailles treaty in which the
United States is interested. This
might be done 'by sending a deleea-
tion to Europe. or by calling a con-
ference Of the allies in Washington,
1t also is suggested that il IL
should appear impracticable for the
United States to ratify the treaty
with reservations, those parts ac-
ceptable to America might be en-
bodied in a new treaty or treaties
to be signed by the United States,
the allies and Germany.
To Press Knox Resolution,
The Foreign Relations Committee
intends to consider the Knox reso-
luton at once and report it to the
Senate in time to press it to a vote
as soon as the Colombian treaty is
disposed of. The Knox resolution,
as revised, provides:
That the declarations Of war
against Germany and Austria Hun
gary. are repealed.
That German property in the
hands of the United States govern
ment shall be retained until pro-
vision is made in a treaty with Ger
many for the satisfaction of Ameri-
can claims for war damages.
That until determined otherwise
by treaty or act of Congress, The
United States reserves all the rights,
powers, claims. privileges, indem-
mites, reparations or advantages
stipulated for the benefit of Amer
lea and Americans in the Versailles
treaty, including the right to en-
force such benefits under the armi-
stice terms