Evening star., 1921-03-14
Editorial Digest
The Island of Yap.

The Island Of Yap.
Lower, morally. than "a gathering
of card sharps" was the assembly OF
foreign diplomats who. regardless OF
American rights and protests. turned
the Island Of Yap over to the Japa-
nese This emphatic statement from
the Chicago Tribune independent re-
publican) represents tho extreme
Wow Of a question which is widely
discussed by the newspapers OF the
the country. While practically no
other writers are moved to such reel
ing as that shown by the Tribune. there
is universal support for tho attitude OF
the State Department and general re-
sentiment that the just demands OF the
United States have been disregarded.
For the most part the action OF the
league and later the supreme councll
in refusing to discuss the zap ques-
tion meets with the disapproval OF
American editors. but some feel that
| more can be accomplished now that
direct negotiations between Japan
and the United States have be-
gun. The Baltimore News dnde-
pendenD represents the latter view
remarking that since the league has
washed it's hands of zap the way is
clear to settlement between our
selves and Japan without fear OF the
league being used to cucumber the
discussion"
The attitude of the league is re-
sented by the New York Herald
Gndependent, which suggests that II
their letter writers gave due atten-
tion to the papers from our state De-
partmcnt they know that what this
government has advised them is that
our interests and rights could not be
disposed of without our knowledge,
assent or authority This was
pointed out to the league when it
was found that mo minute of the
granted at President Wilson's re-
quest in Paris. had been kept on rec
ord. But that fact. the Boston Herald
Gndependent republican, points out.
does not justify the attitude of
Japan"
The Detroit Free Press (independent)
reflects view generally held when
it emphasizes the logic Of America s
position as presented in the State De-
partments note: THE point that the
mandate actually conveyed rests upon
tie proposition that it had been
agreed to by the associated and al
lied powers and that, as Secretary
Colby pointed out is not fact. The
United States is one of those powers
and certainly never agreed to any
thing of the kind. Viewing the Yap
question broadly as a matter Of fair
international dealing. this line of
argument is mere talk, but if japan
wishes to decide the issue on such
lines it will find Mr.. Hughes well
armed"
AS to the complications which might
enter INTO the situation because of
our relations with the league. most
writer's feel that Americas position
no i've sr, xl.,<.
membership. While the Bangor (Me.)
commercial independently represents
those who feel lit would have been
wiser If we had joined in the cove
nant. 1T feels that the fact that we
uIo not does not give the league any
! p,;tb pi;tber autnor1ty to act upon matters
~ithout consulting US in which we
nave a vital stake and in which we
earned the right to participate when
we ,Jolned the allies in the war"
Cur rlght cannot be ignored, the
o.hicago Post independently feels. for
n ~ erounded ;o too justly" Further
/; more, If the league of nations is TO
be factor for world peace it cam
not be- blind to the rights of even
those nations which. for a time re-
man outside it's councils" The PhiIa =
delphla Record independent demo-
cratic} adds: If Japan is in posses
sion of a mandate under the Ieapue
we are absolutely free to object in
any form which we believe our in
terests justify. If we are out of the
ieague we are not committed to
anything the league does.
Not being a member of the league.
the Memphis News-Scimitar (inde,
pendenD considers an advantage. for
the United States is in a position.
unhampered by the limitations of the
covenant, to stand for fair play and
oustlce' regardless of European poll
tics, or any other consideration" On
the other hand, the INDIANAPOLIS
News independently considers that
our attitude makes it harder. for:
III this country were a member of
the league and the mandate principle
rlghtiy applied and honestly lived
up to, a mandate over this island to
Japan or any other power would, in
control since the mandate would
act simply as the representative
and agent of the league of nations.
and with full responsibility toward
it,"
AS to the outcome of the discussion
there are few who see in it the dam
ger OF serious eventualities. The
Baltimore Sun independent demo-
cratic) makes the suggestion that
possibly the powers, including Japan,
are using Yap as pawn to secure
adjustments they desire in other
in the league. but, it adds, the Colby
note has made it clear that we do not
intend to be deprived of our inter
national rights since, but for the
United States. Germany might now
be issuing mandates for French,
British and Italian territory"
Justice is on our side. too, the
Mobile Register (democratic) points
out. land world sentiment will un-
doubtedIy support us: Great Britain
must change her attitude and Japan
can execute another of those dip
coming famous"
The Portland Oregonian inde-
pendent republican, is most op-
timistic and not only refuses to be-
lieve that a serious quarrel will
result, but predicts that perhaps the
affair may become the peg on which
the perfected league of nations at
which President Harding aims will