Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-25
zap MANDATE
AROUSES U. s. TO
ITS WAR RIGHTS
State Secretary Sends
League un ell
Sharp Note
Told Uncle Sam Is to Have His
Little Say as to What is to
Become Of Former Posses
siOns of Germany-No Issue
With Japan, Note Makes
Plain

Washington. Feb. 24.-The American
government has taken an unequivocal
stand with regard to its right to
voice in the disposition of the former
overseas possessions of Germany.
Secretary Colby, in his note of last
Monday to- the council of the League
of Nations, made public tonight at the
state department, submits that the dis
position OF those possessions "can not
be undertaken or effectuated' without
| the assent of the United States.
Furthermore, he stated that the
Unitd States, as one of the principal
allied and associated powers" has
IAN equal concern and an inseparable
interest" with the others of those
powers in the territories taken from
Germany and "concededly an equal
voice in their disposition"
Declaring that the American gov
ernment can not regard itself as
|
mandate given to Japan over the Pa
/, citic island of zap at the meeting of
the league at Geneva last December
II. the secretary Of state requests
that the council having obviously act
ed under a misapprehension of the
facts" in assuming that the United
States had approved a Japanese man
date over the island reopening the
question for further consideration,
which the proper settlement of it
clearly requires.
Referring to the zap mandate, Secre-
tary Colby says in his note that at
the time of the discussion of the ques-
ton at Paris President Wilson was
particular to stipulate" that it should
be reserved for future consideration
and that subsequently the United
States in notes to Great Britain,
France, Italy and Japan "set forth at
length it's contention that zap had in
fact been excepted from the proposed
mandate to Japan for the Pacific is
held by Germany.
1.-The information was further con-
veyed," Mr.. Colby states, that the
reservations which had previously
been made by this government regard
, ing the island of Yap were based on
the view that the island Of zap neces-
sarily constitutes an indispensable
part of any scheme or practicable ar
rangement of cable communication in
the Pacific and that this free and I'M
hampered use should not he limited or
controlled by any one power"
Under Secretary Davis of the state
department made it clear today that
the controversy as to the island of zap
was one between the United States
and the allied powers and not one be-
tween this country and Japan. 1t is
, around the future status of this island
| that much Of the controversy in the
international communications confer
ence has been conferred.
Advices received in official circles
here today said The Netherlands gov
eminent has become a party to the
controversy. over the German cables
seized by Japan and emanating from
zap.
One of the lines connects zap witt,
. Menado. in the Duth East Indies, and
the Dutch government is said to have
addressed request to Japan for pos
session of this cable.
Japan, according to the advices, re-
piled, proposing joint ownership of
the line. but the Dutch government in
its answer is said to have reiterated
its request for outright possession.
Pending the decision Of the interna-
tionaf communication conference as
to the disposition of ~ cables, all of
the lines. both in the Atlantic and the
Pacific, have since last January / been
operated under the joint account Of the
five allied and associated powers par
ticipating in the cable settlement.