Evening star., 1921-12-23
The Troublesome Isle of Yap.

The Troublesome Isle of Yap.
The whole "Pandora's box of trou
bles supposed to be In store on zap
Island vanishes Into thin air. the
Indianapolis Star independent repub-
lican) declares. with the agreement
just reached by the Japanese and
American delegates to the Washing
ton conference regarding our rights
In Yap, a settlement which, according
to the Brooklyn Eagle independent
democratic) responds TO every Amer
lean demand"
The Yap issue. while "of no great
moment" in itself, might have grown
serious, the Atlanta Journal demo
cratic) points out, il left uncomposed,
for. Situated on cable route in
which America is materially interest
ed. the island, in unfriendly hands,
could graveiy interfere with our trade
communications, and. II fortified with
hostile intent. would be positive
menace to our stakes in the Paclfc.
The way in which this tiny little
spot in the Pacific formerly Ger
man possession, developed into an
acute controversy is reviewed in the
editorial comment on the settlement.
The Manchester Union Gndependent
republican, recalls that "the Jap
anese took the island from the Ger
mans" and held it .'by several dis
tinct rights-rights of conquest and
treaty rights"
But the assignment of this mandate
to Japan "was met by an immediate
and vigorous protest" says the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer Independent dem
ocratic), for although the United
States was not member of the
league it demanded full rights in the
disposition of former German hold
ings." However, assuming full con-
troll of the island under the mandate
Japan showed little indication OF
meeting the American demands. and
its reply to the American protest
was most unconciliatory in its spirit
and wording" Then. the Plain Dealer
continues, 1.-The league of nations,
washing it's hands of business which
invited the. United States and Japan
to reach an agreement by direct ne
gotiation."
Accordingly. the Providence Jour
nal Gndependent) relates. in April
last Secretary Hughes submitted to
japan brief in behalf of the
position taken by the Harding, ad-
ministration, that the United States
could not recognize the ALLEGATION of
the Island of Yap or the validity OF
tlement now made, the journal holds.
satisfies every point raised in the
April note"
This 'most amicable of understand
ings" has been reached lin the
broadest possible terms" which. as
reported by the Pittsburgh Dispatch
independently, are that 1.-The island is
not to be fortified by Japan, and
America is to be assured equal access
and cable rights. In return America
is to recognize the mandate given by
the league of nations to Japan for
the German islands north of the
equator" Thus practically all that
Island of Yap has been secured in the
new treaty." the Raleigh, N. c., News
and Observer (democratic) feels. and
the Buffalo Times Independent demo-
cratic) also finds that the pending
treaty fulfills "the principles on which
President Wilson insisted from the
time the Yap question came to the
front"
At the same time, the settlement is
in some respects a compromise, as a
number of writers point out. The
Sioux City Tribune independently
notes that america recedes from
her position that the former German
cables should be internationalized."
and the Boston Transcript Gndepend-
ent republican, emphasizes that while
1--WE obtain the right to maintain q
cable station at Yap," we agree ito
suspend the operation of that right
so long as the Japanese government
shall maintain on the Island of Yap
an adequate radio telegraphic sta
ton, cooperating effectively with the
cables and with other radio stations
on ships and shore, without discrim-
inatory exactions or preferences"
But shoulS discrimination develop.
the Indianapolis News independently
observes, the American government
would still have the right to estab-
lish its own service.
The important point in the treaty,
as the Newark News independently
sees it. is that "the principle Of man.
dates, one of the great creations of
the league Of nations. has been ac-
cepted by the United States" since by
its terms sit recognizes Japan as the
mandatory thus putting its
seal Of approval upon the leagues
work" It goes further than mere
recognition Of the principle of man
dates, the Norfolk Virginian Pilot
/ independent democratic) believes; 1t
liz even "a conspicuous victory for
decency in the administration Of man.
dates"
referring to the probable Similar
arrangement with Great Britain. the
Springfield Republican independently
remarks that thus in broad sense
the agreement may be viewed as q
means of recovering some of the ben
Gifts enjoyed by the allies under the
treaty of Versailles. which the United
States was in danger of losing" and
taken In connection with the treaty
of Berlin by which the United States
gains advantages which the treaty Of
Versailles grants the allied powers,