Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-04-27
j. s. IS DEFIED IN
NOTES FROM JAP AN
Hughes Warns League to Keep
Hands OF zap.
NIPPON CRIES bad FAITH"
Washington Reveals Correspondence
That Led 20 the v. S. Note 10
Po~ers-SitUation Considered
Tense % Washington.


Washington. April ia.-To maintain.
SIS position with regard 10 the Pacific
island 81 Zap. the American govern
ment would have ITO prove not mere
iy the fact that President Wilson
made reservations concerning u. but
also that the supreme council decided
IN favor % those views" the Japanese
. government SAYS IN note under date
~ February -. made public by the
State department. along with the other
. correspondence between the two gov
ernments regarding Zap.
1t must also be remembered
favor Of the exclusion OF the island Of
Hap-a question Of grave concern 10
Japan and one on which the japanese
delegation invariably maintained
firm attitude-had really been made.
as n j. implied by the argument Of
the United States government. NJ the
meeting Of the supreme council. May
:. u9l9l. az which Japan was not
. represented. Il could not but have
. been regarded as an act 81 entirely
bad faith"
Hughes Note IN Reply.
II was 10 this note that Secretary
Hughes replied April .. az the same
. time sending similar notes 90 the gov
ernments 90 Great Britain. France
and ITALY. lie declared that the United
States was unable 20 agree with
Japan's contention that in order 20
maintain its position Il would have TO
prove not only that President Vii
son llade reservations regarding Zap.
but also that the supreme council
adopted those views.
"As no treaty has ever been con-
cluded with the United States. relat-
Inc o. the island 81 Yap." Mr.. Hughes
added -and as no one has ever been
authorized 10 oede or surrender the
right or interest ~ the United States
In the island. this government must
insist that q has not lost its right
or interest Is Il existed prior 20 ans
action 81 the supreme council or Of
f the League 81 Nations. and cannot
4 recognize the nllOcation 81 the island
NJ the validity OF the mandate 70
Japan"
japan has not rs yet replied 10 this
F communication. so that 20 date the
. correspondence consists ~ the two
notSs quoted above. another formal
note sent hy Acting Secretary Davis
. last December 9 by direction 81 Pres
80. UNI. "a &c., rs,a.,, IA x,rfsls
which the exchanges were initiated
last November after some question
had arisen az the meetings here Of the
E international communications confer
. ence concerning the action Of the SUI
. preme council with regard % Van.
In the first memorandum. dated No
vember q. the secretary Of state said
u was "the clear understanding" OF
the American government that the su-
Z preme council az the previous request
Z of President Wilson had reserved for
future consideration the final dispo-
sitlon Of the island In the hope that
some agreement might be reached TO
place IL under international control
and thus render Il available as an In
Z ternational cable station.
Calls Decision Finai.
The japanese foreign Office replied
in a memorandum under date az No
vember ~ that IL was ~the definite
I understanding Of tie japanese gov
T eminent that the supreme council on
T May came 20 a final decision 10
place under mandate 20 japan all OF
the former German islands north OF
T the equator: that the decision involved
E mo reservations whatever In regard
10 the island OF Zap" and that there
fore the japanese government would
not be able 20 consent 20 any PROPOSE
7 ton which. reversing the decision OF
the supreme council. would exclude
the island q zap from the territory
Y committed 20 their charge"
In response 70 this memorandum.
E Acting Secretary Davis dispatched a
long formal note 20 Tokyo. setting
+ forth that the American government
T could not agree that zap was included
+ in the decision OF the supreme coun-
eli 81 May :. 1919. as claimed. and
that even on the assumption that the
Z island had been included In the man
date ~an other powers should have
free access to the island for the land
I ing and operation Of cables"
The japanese reply on February &c
said n the observation Of the Ameri
I can government with regard 10 cables
was put forth irrespective OF the fact
I that the island was within the man.
datory territory then the question
seems 20 Re one which should be
freely settled by the nation which has
charge Of the place. namely. Japan