New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-14
Harding Sees
Australian to
Plan Accord
High Commissioner Sheldon
Ardent Advocate of Brit
ish Dorninions Joining
U. S. on Japanese Issues
To Meet Hughes To-day
Hope Aroused of Winning
London Support on Man
date and Treaty Rights
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON. April 13.-The con-
ference between Mark Sheldon, High
Commissioner of Australia, and Presi
dent Harding to-day, and the an
nouncement that Mr.. Sheldon would .ee
Secretary of State Hughes tomorrow
were regarded here as of intense in
terest in connection with the Harding
peace program laid down by the Presi-
dent in his address to Congress YES
terday.
Interest in these conferences is so
intense because it is realized here that
the entire question of Americas rela-
tions with Europe and the rest of the
world, the possibility of an association
OF nations. and the possibility of Amer
lea entering partly into cooperation
with the Allies on the Treaty of Yer.
sallles, with reservations. really hangs
on the final outcome of the present
dispute over the Island of Yap.
This is not only because of the tre-
mendous Importance as cable station
of this little island formerly owned by
Germany, and taken over under a man
date by Japan, but because on the is
sues involved in the zap controversy
hang the whole question Of Americas
rights In all mandates and her rights
in virtually every problem raised bv
the Treaty of Versailles. To mention
but one illustration, it involves the
Mesopotaplian oil question.
Might Enlist Great Britain
Therefore, anything bearing on an
influence which might force the gov
ernment of Great Britain to side with
the United States iii dispute inside
the Allied powers as to the respective
rights Of Japan and the United States
is naturally regarded here as of very
nearly supreme Importance.
Added to this complicated situation
Is the fact that Mr.. Sheldon, on his
own initiative, wrote to Senator Lodge.
while Mr. Wilson was still in the White
House. expressing cordial agreement
with speech made by the Republican
leader and chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee in Philadelphia
some months ago.
union of America with the British do
minions Of Canada, Australia and New
Zealand on the question of Japanese
immigration, japanese ownership of
land and other problems in which these
dominions found themselves in accord
with the United States in resisting
what Japan has regarded as being her
rights.
The New York Tribune at the time,
in exclusive Washington dispatches,
called attention to the significance of
the move, which created considerable
comm otion here and in London. Dis
lowing revealed an apparent disposition
on the part OF the British government
to take cognizance of the sentiment in
the dominions
Backed by Premier Hughes
Within the last few days, and possi-
bly, not unconnected with Mr.. Shelden's
ences with President Harding and Sec
pronouncements along this line from
Premier Sam Hughes Of Australia. OF
course, Mr.. Sheldon is aware Of the
statements by Premier Hughes. while,
on the other hand, President Harding
and Secretary hughes are known to be
waiting for decision ON the question
of American rights in zap before max
ing any further move along interna-
tional lines.
The case takes on added interest be-
cause Of the contention of the State
that the present issue of
American rights in Yap is not clear
case between the United States and
Japan, but case as between me United
States and the four Allied powers
Great Britain, France, Japan and Italy.
France and Italy are interested in zap
only in so far as the decision on the
claim of American rights in Yap bears
on American claims in Mesopotamia and
elsewhere. Hence if pressure can be
brought on the British government be~
cause of the sympathetic interest of the
British dominions in American resist
ance to Japanese claims in Yap it is
thought here that it is difficult to ex-
aggerate the Importance Of the situa-
ton.