862i.01/59: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Davis ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:22 p.m.]
1629. Your 1136, November 9, 4 p.m. Following note dated November 16 just received from Foreign Office.
“With reference to the memorandum as to the Island of Yap which was left at the Foreign Office on the 11th instant by a member [Page 264] of your staff, I have the honor to remind Your Excellency that all the islands in the Pacific north of the Equator formerly in the possession of Germany, including the Island of Yap, were by decision of the Council of Four included in the mandate to be given to Japan. This decision is dated May 7th, 1919 and has been published. President Wilson was himself present on that occasion. An examination of the minutes of that meeting discloses no record of his having made any reservation when the decision was taken, although it is on record that, when the Japanese claim to Yap had been discussed on previous occasions, the President had declared in favor of internationalizing the island.
2. In these circumstances I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that it does not appear to be open to His Majesty’s Government to regard the decision] of May 7, 1919 as other than definitive.
I have the honor to be, etc. (Signed) Lancelot Oliphant.”