862i.01/145½

Memorandum of a Conversation between the Secretary of State and the Japanese Ambassador (Shidehara), June 18, 1921

[Extract]

Re: Yap. The Ambassador stated that, following the suggestion that he should present a confidential and informal memorandum giving his views as to the basis of settlement of the Yap controversy, he had two memoranda to present,34 (1) with respect to the general question of Yap, and (2) with respect to the existing cables. He asked the Secretary to read them. The Secretary did so, and then stated that he would take the matter under consideration; that he was at a loss to understand why communication by radio had been excluded. The Ambassador said that it was of no practical consequence inasmuch as this Government had full opportunity for radio communication at the Island of Guam. The Secretary said that [Page 291] there might be a break in the cable between Yap and Guam and that the wireless station at Yap might be used to bridge the distance; that however much or little the radio station at Yap might be used, he could not see why we should not have an equal opportunity and facility for the purpose. The Secretary said that a cable was a mere instrument of communication; that the substantial thing was the communication itself, and that as the island appeared only to be of importance with respect to the communication, he would think that it ought to be available to all nations alike for all purposes of communication whether by cable or otherwise. The Secretary asked the Ambassador to think it over further and said that in the meantime he would give the Ambassador’s memoranda careful study.

  1. Memoranda from the Japanese Embassy to the Department of State, received June 18, infra.