The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-15
FRENCH REPLY ID US. MANDATE NOTE
 IS MADE PUBLIC
Stand Taken Very Agreeable to United States, Bordering Closely on an Absolute
 Commitment
By Associated Press


 Washington, April 1.-The French reply to Secretary Hughes note re- Earding mandates, the only one thus . fa- received from any of the four great powers addressed, was made public simultaneously today in Wash ington and Paris. It is in the form of letter from Premier Briand to Ann bassador Wallace, and is of a prelim- mary nature, M. Briand stating that full response could not be made ''un- til after an understanding has been reached between the governments of the four interested powers at the next meeting of the supreme council of the allies"
 The reply was issued by the state department without comment, but ad- ministratfon officers said it was very agreeable to the United States, and while not an absolute commitment, was couched in diplomatic language that was tantamount to a recognition of the principle laid down by Mir Hughes.
 The French premier deals directly with the Japanese mandate over the Paclflc island Of Tap, but does not advert specifically to the American claim to equal rights with the other prii, cipal allied and associated powers i, in the disposition of the former Ger man overseas possessions.
 WILL STAND BY U. S.
 With regard to Yap, M Briand says that when this question comes before the supreme council the representa- uves of France will broach the exam ination thereto with the greatest de- sire to find solution which will give every satisfaction to the United states"
 M. Briand reminds Ambassador Wal lace that the French republic "has al- ready done all in it's power to lend it's aid to the American government in this matter" and refers to a previous ex- precision by the French government of the hope that the controversy may be satisfactorily settled by conversations between &he American and Japanese governments.
 he1erence also is made to an unpub- Hsheu French note to the United States regarding Tap, in which France con firms that at meetings of the supreme council before that of May '. 1919. when mandate for the northern Pa- cific islands was awarded to Japan. reservations regarding the island of zap were made by President Wilson anc Secretary Lansing in addition. That note also says that the reserva uons were made in the presence of the representative of Japan, Baron Makino, who had not objected that the oues, (.ion raised should be placed in dis cusslon, and that conseouently the Japanese government was cognizant Of the American reservations.
 GIVEN SIIPREME CAITNCyr
 The previous French note which M briand quotes was in reply to Secretary Coiby's communication last Febrllarv to the council of the League of Nations re- garding Tap. The council replied to the American government with the staten,cnt that MT. Colby's communication had been referred to the allied supreme co1n ci since that body awarded the man. cate for the former German islands in the Paclhc north of the equator There the matter rested until Secretary Hughes restated the position of the n,erican government on April in similar notes addressed to Great Britain Japan Ita1v and France
 The assumption here, both in official and diplomatic circles, has been that ex changes were in progress between the Ieur powers regarding MT. Hughes com mnications. NJ. Briands~>now indicates tnat the four powers will seek to reach an accord when the supreme council that is the council of allied premiers- has its next meeting. Whether the American government will be invited to send representative to that meeting has not been disclosed
 It has been the understanding that tn recpening of the whole question of man dates by the supreme council was one of the objects sought by the American gov eminent, though no formal declaration on that point has been forthcoming. Sec Setary Colby insisted that the American s$overnment should have opportunity to pass upon the mandate forms before their award, and thus far there has been nothing to indicate any departure from that policy.
 Tne American government has held that it had peculiar interest in some of