832i.01/61: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to the Acting Secretary of State

1982. Referring to Department’s no. 1625, November 9th, 4 p.m.,15a and my 1917, November 13th, 8 p.m.,16 regarding disposition of Island of Yap. Following is text of note received today from Foreign Office under date of 1st instant:

“By a note under date of the 12th instant (ultimo], the United States Embassy was good enough to inform the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the views of the American Government in the question of the Island of Yap, which gave rise to discussion during the Communications Conference at Washington. The American Government understands that at the request of President Wilson the Supreme Council intended reserving the final disposition of that island on account of its importance as regards international telegraphic communications, and that consequently the Island of Yap is excluded from the mandate conferred upon Japan over the islands north of the Equator.

It is indeed true that at the meeting of May 1st, President Wilson manifested the desire that the Island of Yap should be placed under a special regime, but this desire was not reiterated during the subsequent meetings, in particular that of May 2nd, when it was decided that Germany would have to waive all claims to the three Tsingtao cables in favor of Japan. Moreover, there were no reservations to the decision of the Supreme Council of May 7th, relative to the colonial mandates, attributing to Japan mandate over the islands north of the Equator.

Under these conditions it seems that the mandate conferred upon Japan covers the Island of Yap as well as the other islands north of the Equator.”

Wallace
  1. See footnote 2, p. 263.
  2. Not printed.