Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-07
HUGHES SAYS !,
U.S.. HAS NOT
LOST RIGHTS
Declares Disposition Of Ger
man Islands Must Have
Consent of America.
Attitude of Administration
Set Forth in Notes to
Allies, A

the American government to partica-
pate in the peace settlements affecting
the former overseas possessions Of
Germany has been stated anew by
Hughes in similar notes
which are now before the japanese.
British. French and Italian govern
ments. ~
Continuing a correspondence be-
gun by the Wilson administration, the
new secretary of state specifically
asks these governments to reconsider
the award of a mandate to Japan for
the Pacific island of zap. Mr.. Hughes
argues that the failure Of the United
States to become a party to the treaty
of Versailles has not affected its
rights in the overseas possessions. the
titles in which Germany renounced in
the peace treaty to the principal Al
lies and associated powers.
The attention of the four Allied
governments is again called that
President Wilson at the meetings OF
the council of four in Paris during the
framing Of the treaty specifically made
reservations affecting the future
Hughes embodies in his not mem
orandum from Mr.. Wilson to the state
department under date of last March
5 in which the former president de-
clares he never agreed to mandate
for Japan over the island and that it
was his understanding that the ques-
ton Of the disposition Of the island
was to be deferred until the question
Of cable communications was settled.
Washington. April 6.-Failure OF
the United States to ratify the treaty
of Versailles will not be allowed to
detract from this country's right to
participate in peace settlements, Sec
retary Hughes declared in notes adj
dressed to Great Britain, France.
Italy and Japan.
ain. which is similar to that to France
and Italy, follows:
with respect to the mandate to
Japan. purportins to have been con-
firmed and defined in its terms by tho
supreme council Of the League of Ma
tions. Of the German possessions in
the Pacific ocean, lying north of the
equator, this government deems it ap-
propriate to state the fundamental
principles which. in its view, are de-
terminative.
lit will not be questioned that the
right to dispose of the overseas pos
sessions Of Germany was acquired
only through the victory of the Allied
and Associated powers. and it is also
! believed that there is no disposition
on the part of the British government
to deny the participation of the Unit
ed States in that victory. 1t would
seem to follow necessarily that the
. right accruing to the Allied and Asso-
ciated Powers through the common
victory is shared by the United States
and that there could be no valid or
effective disposition of the overseas
possessions of Germany. now under
consideration, without the assent Of
the United States.
No Rights Surrendered.
This government must, therefore,
point out that as the United States
has never vested either the supreme
, council or the League of Nations with
any authority for any decision which
! could be deemed to affect the rights
of the United States. 1t may also be
observed that the right accruing to
the United States through the victory
in which il has participated could not
be regarded as IN any way ceded or
surrendered to Japan. or other ma
tions. except by treaty. and that no
such treaty has been made
The fact that the United States
has not ratified the treaty of Yer
sailles cannot detract from right.
, which the United States had already
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 to
any other nations any right in the
overseas possessions of Germany. save
as an equal right therein should be
secured to the United States On the
! contrary. Article 1l9 of the treaty Of
/ Versailles provides:
| "'Germany renounces in favor OF
the principal Allied and Associated
! powers all her rights and titles over
| her overseas possessions
Treaty Confirms c. S. Position.
1T will not be questioned that one
of the principal Allied and Associated
| nou1ces her rights and titles is the
! United States. Thus, not only could
! the position of the government of
/ Japan derive no strength from the
! treaty of Versailles or from any dis
cussions preliminary thereto, but the
/ terms of that treaty confirm the posi-
ton of the government of the United
States.
! Further, the draft convention re-
lating to the mandate for the German
/ concessions in the Pacific ocean, north
! of the Equator, which was subse-
/ quently proposed. proceeded in the
/ same view. purporting on behalf OF
! the United States as one of the grant
| ors to confer the mandate upon
! CONTINUED on Page 7.)
| avv~~-~ 4 VI~