The Washington herald., 1921-04-19
STAND
ON YAP. ISSUE
TO BE UPHELD
State Department Reveals
Notes and Japan's De-
mand ''for Proof"
QUESTION RAISED
ON RESERVATIONS
Hughes Discusses Prin-
ciples as Determin- q.
ing Factor.

Ing factOr.
This government accepts as fnal
the word of Woodrow Wilson and
will enter no further debate over
the question OF fact" raised by
Japan in regard to Wilson's reser-
vations at Paris on the proposed
award of the Yap mandate to ia
pan. ..
Japan's injection Of this question
constituted the most striking fea-
ture in the exchange of notes be-
tween the State Department and
the imperial Tokyo government
anent the mandate issue. just made
public.
And. 1t is learned. 1t was to save
the new administration from be-
coming embroilled that Wilson wrote
a formal note to the State Depart
ment. signing It only a few mo-
ments before he left the White
House on Inauguration day. setting
forth his position on the point in
full.
ReJoinder Rather sharp.
Japan. 1t is revealed. replying In
it's note of February ,2s to former
Secretary Colby's second note on
the Yap mandate issue. contended
that It would be necessary for the
United States ito prove the fact
that the particular line of views
(wilson's reservations on Yap) was
stated at the meetings OF the su-
preme council" Sensing the en-
barrassine potentialities Wilson
wrote a formal letter to the de-
partment. in which he said:
First. that he had never con-
sented to the assignment of the
Island OF Zap to Japan"
Second. that he had, ''on several
occasions made specific reservations
regarding the Island of Zap and
had taken the position that II
should not be assigned under man
date to any one power but should
be internatfonalized for cable spur-
poses" .,
Third, that he had never aban-
doned or modified this position in
respect to the Island 'of Yap."
wilson's Letter Final.
So far as the present admins
tration is concerned, II appears that
Wilson's letter ends the matter in
regard to the question Of fact.
Tn. last reply to Japan written. by
Secretary Hughes declares that this
government finds itself unable to
agree" with Japan's claim that to
maintain her position the United
States must prove the fact OF
reservations attributed to Wilson
and also prove that the supreme
council decided in favor Of those
views"
Hughes reply to this. IT may be
stated authoritatively. was designed
not to make the question Of fact
a determinative question but 20
confine the discussion with Japan
to the question of principles.
The last OF the series of ex-
changes is Mr.. Hughes trenchant
note. 1t demonstrates that mas
much as the United States has not
ratified the Versailles treaty 1t has
not given its assent to the alloca-
tion of the North Pacific Islands to
Japan. o.. 80
Japan has not yet replied to the
Hughes note. Italy has taken
stand favorable to the contentious
of the United States and France
has undertaken to obtain a review
of the matter by the supreme coun-
Gil. Great Britain has not tndi-
Gated its attitude. Prayerful con-
sideration of the American de-
mands, however, Is not lacking
either in London or Tokyo in view
of the attitude of the Harding ad-
ministration that II will take no
steps toward partial ratification of
the Versailles treaty until its rights
in the .confiscated territories Of the
central empires are conceded by the
allies.
Yap Not in Mandate.
The correspondence just made
public begins with a note to japan
November 3, 1920, pointing out that
Yap was excluded from the man
date by the Wilson reservation.
Japan replied November 1s that
Yap was included by the supreme
council on May 4, 1919. and there
is no recorL of a reservation. On
December the acting Secretary OF
State rejoined with a detailed ac-
count OF the Wilson reservation.
Japan replied on February rs,
1921. that the American govern
ment must prove the supreme coun-
ell accepted the Wilson reservation.
1T must also be remembered,
says the Japanese note, that IL a
decision in favor Of exclusion Of the
Island of Yap-a; question of grave
concern to Japan and one on which
the Japanese delegation invariably
maintained a firm attitude-had
really been made as is implied by
the argument of the United states.
at the meeting OF May at which
Japan was not represented. 1t could
not but have been regarded as an
act of entirely had faith"
japan quotes Col. e. NJ. House
as opposing the open door.