The Washington times., 1921-04-18
JAPANDEF|ES
j. S. ON YAP'
Nippon Maintains Original Pc.
sition in Note on Island
Dispute.
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CONTINUED from First Page.)
President Wilson had given notice
5 that America would make reserva-
1 tions concerning Yap. These were
on April 81. at a meeting between
I Wilson, Clemenceau. and Lloyd
George: at a meeting of the foreign
ministers on April 80, and again at
a meeting ain Mr.. Pinchons room"
tthe French foreign minister) on
May /.
"In the meeting OF May<6," contin-
ued the note, ''in the discussion re-
garding the allotment of mandates
in the Pacific. Mr.. Lloyd George ex-'
pressed his understanding that the
Japanese should receive a mandate
for CERTAIN islands north OF the
equator. According to the recerd,
President Wilson consented In prin-
ctple to this, with an explanatory
statement that with respect to man
dates the policy OF the open door
would have to he applied and that
there must be equal opportunities for
the trade and commerce Of ether
members of the league. The Island
of Yap, having been previously cited
rs q special ease for particular future
confederation, was not intended to be
included among the CERTAIN islands
designated as available to japan un-
der mandate"
The Japanese reply of February 26
said:
''Of the meetings referred to lin the
American note) IL must be noted that
the Imperial delegates were not pres
ent at the meetings of the Supreme
Council on April 21, May 6. and May
Z, and in consequence the Imperial
Government have no means OF ascer-
t.s- ,Aat via
by the American delegates at those
meetings. Assuming, however. that
President Wilson did in fact give ut
terance to such views as are ascribed
to him, this cannot warrant the
United States Government as against
the Imperial Government in going
beyond asserting as a fact that Presi-
dent Wilson or Mr.. Lansing gave 1t
as his opinion that the Island
of Yap should be internationalized or
that it should not pass into the hands
of any one power
PUTS PROOF ON WASHINGTON.
In order to maintain successfully.
therefore, that the Island of Yap is
not included in the mandatory terri
tories assigned to Japan, the Imperial
Government consider it necessary for
the American Government to prove
not merely the fact that the particu-
lar line of views was stated at the
meetings. but also that the meeting
decided in favor Of those views.
This Conclusion is the more ire
futable since the imperial delegation
never expressed their agreement
with the above stated views
OF President Wilson or Mr.. Lansing.
"A view is advanced further in the
note under reply that II Yap was
meant to be included among the
islands assigned under the mandate
TO Japan. then the decision
should have been drafted in more spe-
cific language than is the case.
To assert that the fact of non-exclu-
sion should have been specifically
mentioned in a decision of this kind
could only be regarded as an extra
ordinary and even an unreasonable
contention with which no one would
be likely to concur.
ITO sum NJ the I0pe1ial
Government cannsr agree In giving
m extraordinary and unusual inter-
probation to the decision on q vague
ground that certain thoughts and In
tenttons not expressed in the text
thereof existed In the mind Of the
delegate of one power only.
"On the strength of Article 5 of the
mandate covering ex-German islands
tn the Pacific north of the equator
1t Is commended in the note
under reply that no DEFINITE asree-
rnent had yet been reached as to the
final disposition of the ex-German
Islands in the Pacific north of the
equator II the American
contention in this connection is up
held, it must needs follow that all