THE NEW SPIRIT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1921, Page 5

THE NEW SPIRIT.

ANOTHER STEP FORWARD. YAP’S DESTINY DECIDED. AGREEMENT on mandates. (From the Special Representative of the Australian Press Assn.) Received Dec. 13, 10 p.m. Washington, Dec. J2. The Secretary of f State (Mr. C. E. Hughes) has announced that the United States and Japan have reached an agreement in respect to Yap and the mandates of the islands north of the equator. The negotiations have been in progress sinse June last and the terms were almost entirely agreed upon before the meeting of the present Conference. It has been agreed that the United States shall have free access to Yap on a footing of entire equality with Japan or any other in all that relates to landing operations of the existing Yap-Guam cable or any cable hereinafter laid by the United States or its nationals. United States nationals will be accorded the same rights and privileges in respect tq the' radio and. telegraphic service as the cables provided, so long as Japan maintains on Yap an adequate wireless station. co-operating efficiently with the cables and other ratio stations on ships and the shore, without discriminatory actions. The preference to exercise the right to establish radio stations by the United States is to be suspended. .Japanese circles expressed saisfaction in connection with the settlement of the Yap question, . which will result in mutual concessions both by Japan and the United States. The Japanese spokesman said further discussion regarding the Shantung railway matter had not changed the view that a satisfactory agreement would be reached. The American spokesman to-day explained the differences affecting ■ t he United States in regard to the C mandated is.ands, respectively north and south of the equator. The Versailles Treaty not having been signed by the United States it became necessary to define the rights. So far as north of the equator was concerned they had a commercial treaty with Japan and therefore the basis of the arrangement was an extension of the provisions of this treaty to cover the islands, with ail amplification in some directions, as, for instance, in the matter of missionaries, who were given power to establish schools, etc. This was a perfectly fair basis, /not involving the United States in the Versailles Treaty, the League of Nations or in any other way. There was no commercial treaty with Britain covering Australia and New Zealand. Respecting missionaries it was agreed that Japan shall ensure complete freedom of conscience and the full exercise of all forms of worship, consonant with public order and morality. Missionaries shall be free to enter, travel, reside or acquire property, and to erect xjigious buildings and open schools, Japan 'o have the right to exercise such control as is necessary for the maintenance of order. Japan agrees that vested American property rights shall bg maintained and respected. It was agreed that the treaties between the United States and Japan shall apply to the mandated islands.