Omaha daily bee., 1921-04-08
Mandates and Good Faith.

The note sent by Secretary Hughes to The
governments OF Great Britain, France and Italy
on the subject OF the mandates clearly sets out
the position OF the United States American
views are thus expressed:
1t will not be questioned that the right to
dispose OF the overseas possessions OF Ger
many was acquired only through the victory. OF
the allied and associated powers. and It is also
believed there is no disposition on the. part OF
the British government to deny participation
OF the United States i'll that victory. 1t would
seem to follow that the right accruing to the
allied and associated powers through the COM
mon victory is shared by the United States
and that there could be no valid or effective
disposition OF the overseas possessions OF Ger
many. now under consideration. without as
sent OF the United States.
This government must therefore point out
that as the United States has never vested either
the supreme council or the League of Nations
with authority to bind the United States or act
on its behalf, there has been no opportunity
for any decision which could be deemed to al
feet rights OF the United States. It may also
be observed tina: the right accrung to the
United States through the victory in which It
has participated, could not be regarded as in
any way ceded or surrendered to Japan or to
other nations, except by treaty, and that no
such treaty has been made.
The fact that the United States has not
ratified the Treaty OF Versailles cannot de-
tract from rights which the United States has
acquired, and it IS hardly necessary to suggest
that treaty to which the United States is not
party could not affect these rights. But it
should be noted that the Treaty of Versailles
did not purport to secure to Japan, or any
other nations any right to the overseas pos
sessions OF Germany, save as an equal right
therein should be secured to the United States.
In his note to the State department on March
), 1921, Mr.. Wilson specifically denies that he
ever consented to awarding to Japan the man
date over Yap or that he had withdrawn his
proposal that that island be internationalized IL
then, the allies have ignored the United States
in awarding the commercially important island to
the mikado they are now served in due form
with notice that this government will not be
bound by the action. Membership in the League
of Nations or not, the United States did have a
hand in the war, and as contributor 10 the
result of that war proposes to have voice in
the disposition of the fruits as we'll as the ,e-
sponsibilitics OF victory Without regard to the
league, assent must be had from Washington to
any action or it does not bind this nation, and
without American agreement, the assignment is
incomplete.
he British government will, it is hintcd
suggest to Japan that it consent to the reopenay
OF the case. Such action may lead to the ulti-
mate settlement of what is now an unpleasant
situation. Japan made too big a grab appar-
emily proceeding on the belief that having Sc
cured Shantung, the taking of Yap would be
matter unnoticed. Whatever the mikados gov
ernment may or may not have thought the no.
tice served from Washington puts the case on
the simplest OF bases. This country must be
consulted with regard to adjustments growing
out OF the war it helped to wii and that includes
Iap. and We do not consent to having that bit
OF Garth turned over to Japan.