862i.01/37: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 20—11:32 a.m.]
124. Following is English translation of a note, dated February 18, from the Foreign Office received today, which is to take the place of the note of the 7th instant quoted in my number 99, February 11, 6 p.m.18
“The Embassy of the United States was good enough to inform the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 10th and 14th19 December last of the point of view of the American Government in regard to the question of the Island of Yap.
The resolution of the 7th May, 1919, attributed to Japan without reserve a mandate over the islands of the Pacific to the north of the [Page 272] Equator. This mandate was confirmed the 17th December last by the Council of the League of Nations.
Nevertheless, at the commencement of the sitting of the 1st of May, 1919, President Wilson declared that the Island of Yap should not be in the possession of one power. At the close of the same sitting Mr. Lansing reverted to this question. Baron Makino, who was present at this sitting, declared that his Government had taken certain dispositions and had made arrangements to regulate the status of the island but he did not refuse to permit the question raised by President Wilson and Mr. Lansing to be placed in discussion.
It seems that there might be developing [therein] elements for the resumption of a conversation between the United States and Japan with regard to this question.
The French Government for its part would be glad if this conversation might lead to a satisfactory result and it has so informed the Japanese Government. Signed Briand.”
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