ISLAND OF YAP

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 49, 26 February 1921, Page 5

ISLAND OF YAP

THE CABLES CONTROVERSY

NETHERLANDS BECOME A PARTY.

MJHITEB 111*53 ASSOCIATION.—COPIRUKT.)

(ADSTIULIAN • .VBTf ZIUI.tND OABLI ASSOCIATION.) : PARIS, 25th February. fThe Council of the League of Nations briefly discussed America's intervention in the'matter of the Yap mandate. It ■understood that some members consider the Supremo Council, which formally assigned the. island to Japan, must bear the responsibility on the ground that tho League Council's duty is confined to seeing that the mandates are discharged according to the terms imposed.

WASHINGTON, 24th February. Advices received in official circles indicate that tho Netherlands has now become a party ■to tho Yap controversy. One cable lino connects Monado, in the Dutch, East Indies, with Yap, and Hoi- ; land is reported to have addressed a request to Japan asking for the possession of this cable. It is understood that Japan replied proposing joint ownership, but Holland reiterated her request for outright exclusive possession.

The International Communications Conference will probably settle the. entire matter.

It is understood that Japan objects to the association of. the controversy concerning Yap with the question of the distribution of cables. It is believed that she will insist that the new modus operandi which the Communications Oonfer-enco may agrea upon should be applied only to cables. The American contention has been that both questions should be decided 'by the conference. It appeal's that every Government exoapt the Japanese is now pledged to proceed forthwith to an agreement governing either the distributing of'the cables or negotiations for a new modus yivendi. France, Britain, Jtaly, and the United States are united upon these grounds.: [The American proposal is that Yap, ■which is one of the principal CaroJino Islands, should be internationalised, as a cable lauding station. America desires to prevent Japan from securing exclusive control over the cables entering and branching off from Yap; Japaji claims that the Peace Conference gave her the control of Yap as part of the mandatories <*Ver the ex-G-erman Pacific islands north of the ' Equator. The United States contends that the final disposition of Yap was\to be left to the International Communications Conference.]