500.A4a/60a
Statement Issued to the Press from the White House, December 20, 1921
When the President was responding to press inquiries at the afternoon interview today he expressed the opinion that the homeland of Japan did not come within the words “insular possessions and insular dominions” under the four party agreement, except as territory proper of any other nation which is a party to the agreement. This expression has been emphasized as a division between the President and the delegates to the Conference in construing the four party agreement.
The President announced tonight that the difference in view in no wise will be permitted to embarrass the Conference or the ratification of the agreement. He had assumed all along that the spirit of the Conference contemplates a confidence which pledges respect of territory in every way which tends to promote lasting peace.
[Page 39]He has learned from the United States delegates to the Conference that they have agreed to the construction which includes the homeland of Japan in the term “insular possessions and insular dominions”, and has no objection to that construction.