New-York tribune., 1921-04-19
Won't Consent to Reversal
of Councils Decision.
Made, She insists, With
out Protest by America
Asks Proof That
President Objected
Hughes Note Declaring
for Equality of Nations
Awaits Reply of Toxic


tude of the Japanese government to-
ward American protests against the
awarding of a mandate for Yap to
Japan was set forth in correspondence
between the Washington and Toxic
governments made public simultane-
ously to-day in the two capitals.
The most recent Japanese communi-
cation, received here in the closing
days of the Wilson Administration, In
sisted that mandate for the island
had been awarded to Japan by the Su-
preme Council at Paris on May T, 1919,
and that it would not agree with the
American contention that, irrespective
of any award Of mandate. other nations
should have free access to the islands
for the landing and operation of ca
blcs.
To maintain its position with regard
to the island, the American government
would have "to prove not merely the
fact" that President Wilson made reser-
vations concerning it, but also that the
those views," the Japanese government
said.
Emphasizes Interest in zap
ut must also be remembered" Japan
says, "that if decision in favor of the
exclusion Of the Island of Yap-a ques-
tion of grave concern to japan and one
on which the Japanese delegation in
variably maintained firm attitude
had really been made, as it is implied
by the argument of the United States
government at the meeting Of the Su-
preme Council May 7, 1919, at which
Japan was not represented, it could not
but have been regarded as an act Of en-
tirely bad faith"
In replying to this note Secretary
Hughes on April s stated emphatically
that the United States could not be
bound by any action either of the
Supreme Council or of the League Of
Nations, and that as no one had ever
been "authorized to surrender or cede"
the right of the United States in the
island the American government could
not recognize the alocstion of the
island nor the validity of the mandate
to Japan"
The Japanese government now has
this communication under considera-
tion. The governments Of Great Brit
ian, France and Italy also have copies
before them. Exchanges among the
four Allied governments are under
stood to be under way, with view to
reaching a common accord before re-
plying.
The viewpoint Of the Harding Ad-
ministration, as explained to-day in
official quarters, is that the question
o. whether the Supreme Council did
actually award the island to Japan on
May z, as contended by that country
the State Department, is Of secondary
Importance.
United States Insists on Equal Rights
The important point, it is erupha-
sized, is the recognition by the Allied
governments Of the principle laid down
by Mr.. Hughes, that the United States,
aa one Of the principal Allied and as
sociated powers, has an equal right
with the others in the former overseas
possessions of Germany and that those
rights cannot be disposed of without
the consent of the American govern
ment.
Administration officers believe that
the soundness of this position will be
conceded by it's former associates in
the war. With this principle recog-
nized, it is believed the details as to
the American rights can be worked out
without great difficulty.
The correspondence made public in
cluded two memoranda and three Tor
NAL notes.
In the first memorandum, dated No
vember 8, the Secretary Of State said
it was "the clear understanding" of
the American government that the Su-
preme Council at the previous request
of President Wilson had reserved for
future consideration the final dispo-
sition Of the island in the hope that
some agreement might be reached to
place it under international control
and thus render it available as an in
ternational cable station.
The Japanese Foreign Office replied,
November 10, that it was "the delinite
CONTINUED on next uaus.