Arizona republican., 1921-04-09
-JAP AN ATTITUDE
 LIN TAP DISPUTE WILL DETERMINE
 ENGLISH STAND
Great Britain and France Bound to Carry Out Part Of Contract If Japan Insists
TRepubIican A. ?. Leased wire1


 WASHINGTON. April 8. - Secre- tary Hughes note to the Japanese, British, French and Italian govern ments on mandates are being inter- pfeted abroad, according to informa- ton in diplomatic circles here as stating an advanced position of the American government. Some diplo- mats who have studied the text of the communication to Great Britain, as made public by the state department, are apprehensive that it may be con- sidered as re-opening the whole sub ject of mandates.
 Full exchanges between the four governments are expected before any one of them replies to MT. 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 was explained was made after the activities of the German submarines demanded rein- forcement of the entente naval forces beyond their own resources and the opinion is advanced that since Japan fulfilled her part of the contract, Great Britain and France feel bound to carry out the agreement if Japan insists. If Japan is willing to modi- fy its position with regard to these islands and particularly the island of Yap. however. the view of diplo- matic observers here is that the Euro pean allied governments will gladly accept that solution.
 In a way the present situation is regarded as somewhat similar to that obtaining when Italy insisted upon invoking the treaty of London in Justification of her claims in the Adriatic section. Both Great Britain and France sought to induce Italy to abate her claims in the matter of Plume. but let it be known that if Italy insisted they would execute the provisions of the treaty of London, |. obnoxious as were those to the limited States.
 The Adriatic settlement finally was brought about through direct ne- gotiations between Italy and Jugc Slavia and it was thus found un- necessary to invoke the provisions ol the secret treaty made by the Euro pean allies before the United States became a belligerent.
 rn the case of the treaty of London it was asserted that President Wilson was ignorant of it's existence before his arrival in Paris for the peace conference, but the entente contention is understood to be that the nature and extent of the agreement witf ~6pan was discussed in Paris in con nfction with the peace treaty.
 The present situation may rais' the question of what the records O the Council of Four at Paris reall. Lod oofd he did not agree to the Japanese man date for the Island of Tap, but other who were represented in the counci of four are understood to contend that there are records in existence to show that what objections MI Wilson made were in the course o arguments and not expressed in tn vote that awarded the mandate.
 The position Japan will take il replying to MT. Hughes note canno now be forecast It has insiste, upon it's right to control of the islam, in correspondence which previousl has passed between it and the Unite States. This correspondence has bee published only in fragmentary forn but it has been the understandin that Japan expressed willingness t meet the wishes of the United State so far as the matter of landing cable at Tap was concerned, provide such a concession was not taken t question the right of Japan to ad minister the affairs of the island un der her exclusive mandate.
 President Wilson has stated tha he insisted at Paris upon the inter standardization of Yap and this known to have been the attitude { the American government. at the ir teruational communications confer ence here-
 The council of the league of na tions, in replying to the original pro test of the American government rt garding Tap and the British nanda' for Mesopotamia, suggested that u Tinted States send a representatlN to the meeting of the council ne. month when the status of he mar dates is taken up. It has been fe that America can accept this invits tion without sacrificing her objectic to entering the league, bat admins traitor officials have refralned fro i,.d<catine what action would taEen on the invitation.