Evening journal., 1921-04-18

" --------
ported to be codihcation Of the
agreement reached in the meeting OF
May with reference 20 the North
Pacific Islands
Upon this we understood is
based the assertion that zap was
assigned under mandate 20 Japan
Even this. however. does not OK
pressly include an the islands IN this
particular category although the
qualifying word certain is omitted.
The minutes quoted the memoran-
dunn with the statement. merely.
that the following decisions were
reached. The erroneous publica-
ton Of such a decision OF which this
government was not aware would
not validate IT,
THE President recollects no pro-
posal offered in this meeting TO
change the decision Of May 6 and is
certain he agreed 20 no variance OF
the original proposition"
"t am directed by the President
TO inform you" the note concludes.
that the government Of the United
States cannot agree that the island
of Yap was included in the decision
OF May or In any other agreement
Of the supreme council. In addi-
tion as the island Of zap must form
an Indispensable part Of the inter
national communications II Is essen
tial that it's free and unhampered
communications for such purposes
should not be limited or controlled
by any one power.
Even on the assumption that tho
island Of zap should be included
among the islands held under man
date by Japan. IL is not conceivable
that other powers should not have
free and unhampered access 10. and
use Of the island for the landing and
operation OF cables. This is a right
which the United States would be
disposed TO grant upon any Of its
unfortihed island which may be es-
sential for such purpose"
The Japanese reply 10 this note
states that the Japanese delegates
were not present at the meetings OF
the supreme council Of April 1. 21,
May and May Z. and that "in con-
sequence the imperial government
has no means of ascertaining what
views were expressed by the Ameri-
can delegates at those meetings"
Assuming, however, that President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing previ-
ously had stated that Yap should be
internationalized the Japanese note
continues that "in the opinion Of the
Imperial Government such a fact
argues in no way In favor Of the
contention OF the American Govern
ment that the island OF zap stands
outside the islands that il was de-
cided should be held under the
mandate 10y Japan unless they can
establish at the same time the furth-
/ or fact that the representations of
/ President Wilson and Mr. Lansing
were accepted by the council and the
/ latter decided to exclude Yap from
the mandatory territories assigned to
| Japan"
Referring to the view OF the
American note that II zap had been
| included in the supreme councils
| decision that decision would have
| been In more specific language. the
/ Japanese reply which is the fourth
| note, states that il is more in ac-
. cordance with sound principles OF
Interpretation 10 say that the fact
should have been set down with
| especial clearness II exclusion were
meant. as an exception always re-
| quires 20 be stated definitely.
The japanese note then makes
this important point:
"Nor are the Imperial Govern
{ ment alone and unsupported in their
Interpretation Of the decision for
they are In receipt of authentic in
formation that the government OF
Great Britain and France being as
the same opinion as the japanese
government on the matter, made
statements TO that effect in their
replies to the American note in No
vember last.
"To sum up" the note continues,
"since in a matter OF such a grave
/ nature as the establishment Of man
datory territories only what appears
on the face Of the decisions should
/ be accepted as authoritative, the
/ Imperial Government cannot agree
in giving an extraordinary and un-
usual Interpretation to the decision
on a vague ground that certain
/ thoughts and intentions not eX-
pressed in the text thereof existed in
the mind Of the delegate Of one
power only"
The japanese note says that the
American proposal that even should
Yap be given under a japanese man
| datory the island should be open 20
all nations as a cable station is a
/ question which seems TO be one
\ which should be freely settled by the
nation which has the charge OF the
1