The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-21
THE zap TREATY.

A decision of the Paris conference
which was reversed by the Washing
ton conference on Limitation OF arma-
ment was that regarding the mandate
Of Japan over the Island of zap. Con-
troll of this island was agreed to by
former President Wilson at Paris. and
the agreement was embodied in the
covenant of the League of Nations.
BY this agreement Japan obtained alb
solute monopoly of cable communi-
cations on this island. which is one of
the important cable and radio centers
Of the Pacific.
Immediately upon the inauguration
of the present administration Secre-
tary Hughes notified Japan and other
nations that the United States would
not recognize such mandate and
diplomatic negotiations were opened
with Japan looking to modification of
the mandate. These negotiations had
reached no definite conclusion at the
time the armament conference was
called so that one of the topics of the
agenda was that of the mandate over
zap.
But during the conference the
United States and Japan reached an
agreement regarding these inundated
islands, which are embodied in a
treaty. This treaty was reported ia
vorably to the senate Monday by the
foreign relations committee of that
body. The salient features of this
agreement are:
The United States shall have free
access to the Island of zap on an en-
| tire equality with Japan or any other
nation in all that relates to the land
ing and operation of the existing
Yap-Guam cable and will have the
| right to lay any other cable hereafter.
But it agrees that SO long as Japan
| accords to the United States equal
rights and privileges with respect to
radio and cable service it will suspend
its right to establish radio and cable
stations at zap.
| 1t is further agreed that the United
States and its citizens shall have right
of residence on the island, without re-
striction and that all American prop
erty rights on the island will be main
tanned and respected by Japan; that
Japan will exercise no cable censor
ship or any other supervision over any
rae ssages or operation OF the cable by
the United States and its citizens that
Japan will not discriminate against
the United States and it's citizens in
respect to taxes or port or harbor
charges or facilities, or police regula-
tions.
Japan further agrees that it will
prohibit the supply of intoxicating
liquors to the natives, stop slave
trade and forced labor. stop traffic in
arms and Ammunition, stop military
training of the natives other than that
needed for local police purposes, and
neither erect nor maintain any mill
tary or naval Notifications or bases.
Missionaries and other American citi-
Tens are to be guaranteed complete
freedom of conscience and freedom of
worship; the right to travel unre-
stricted over the island, to acquire
and possess property, erect religious
buildings and open schools
1t is agreed in this treaty. that anv
notifications made by the League of
Nations in the mandate held by Japan
must be made subject to the consent
CT the United States and further that
Japan will furnish the United States
a duplicate of the report which she
makes to the League of Nations re-
garding the administration of the is
lands under her mandate.
1t is worthy of note that Japan is
showing a much better spirit toward
Americans who may wish to settle
On the island than Americans show to-
ward japanese in this country.