New-York tribune., 1921-02-28
Japan Ready
To roCo1nprornise
On Yap Issue
Paris Understands Toxic
viii Seek Solution in
Good Will and Not Ask
More Than Facts Justify
Cable Division Proposed
ENJOYS Reported Unable to
Find Wilson Reservation
in Secretary's Minutes
By Ralph Courtney
Special Gable 10 The Tribune

Copyright, 1921, New York Tribune Inc
PARIS, Feb 27.-Japan is understood
to be prepared to compromise the ques-
tion of her mandate over the Island of
Yap, against which the United States
protested so vigorously to the League
of Nations Council last week.
The Tribune correspondent is in
formed in reliable quarters that Japan
has no intention of pushing her claims
to the Pacific cable station beyond the
point supported by the facts in the
case. Japan, however, has gone care
fully into what happened at the peace
conference negotiations over the island
and cannot discover that President
Wilson actually made the reservations
to the councils decision which are
claimed for him on the occasion of the
famous discussions and conclusions of
May T. 1919.
Sir Maurice Hankey was supposed to
take the minutes of the conferences of
the Big Four. The japanese govern
nent went to Hankey and obtained
from him the minutes of the session,
in question and found that no men
tion of Mr.. Wilson'S reservations was
to be found therein. Neither has
Hankey any recollection that the
President made such reservations.
Seeks Satisfactory Arrangement
Nevertheless, Japan will do every
thing she can under the circumstances
to come to satisfactory arrangement
with the United States. The Japanese
+ho& L
tive present at the conferences of the
Big Four they cannot know positively
what President Wilson said or didn't
say. They consider this question of
fact about which only the governments
who were represented there-Italy,
France and Great Britain-can decide
That the judgment of these powers is
in favor of Japan is unfortunate for
President Wilson's point of view, but
1t is one for which Japan cannot be
blamed or held responsible
1t cannot be denied that the ques-
tion of Yap and Of the cables that con-
rect at that island was mentioned in
the peace negotiations. Secretary of
State Lansing in particular is said to
have brought up the subject several
times in private conversations, but
such mention was in no way connected
with the formal conferences.
1t is explained here that when the
peace conference first began the dispo-
sition of Yap itself and the destiny
of the cables constituted. two separate
questions and the suggestion is made
that this early division of the case
might have given rise to che misunder-
standing.
Would Show Good Will
In the general negotiations which
presumably must now take place be-
tween the United States and the
league council or between the Har-
ding Administration and the Allied Su~
preme Council Japan plans to demon
strate her greatest good will in COM
ing to some agreement.
Much depends upon the discussions
which are now taking place among
the Japanese do not consider an
equitable solution out Of the question
In view. of the clear declaration of
witnesses that President Wilson failed
in Paris to bring his reservations home
to the peace negotiators, it is explained
that ali thought of internationalizing
the island itself must be abandoned
! The disposition of the cables, ON the
other hand, might be discussed out of
Difference to the American claims, be-
cause Japan in any case has no wish
pto act contrary to right.
One possible solution, and one " hich
there is reason to think would be ac-
ceptable TO Japan, would be to give the
United States control of all the cables
between Yap and the United States and
leave to Japan those proceeding west
ward and southwark from the island.
1t is pointed out that only one of the
latter lines Is in working order.
If the contentious of Hankey, the
Japanese and others of what occurred
st the peace table are correct, they
throw great responsibility on the diplo-
macy of President Wilson and Secre-
tary Lansing not only for not securing
/ formal notice Of their reservations but
also for permitting the separation Of
the question of the disposition of the
cables from the ownership ofthe island.
| Despite the fact that this was Sun
/ aay. the League Council this morning
/ had another so-calied "informal"-t
tconsInued on pase fsur>