ALLIES AND AMERICA

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1921, Page 2

ALLIES AND AMERICA

AUSTIiAMAN AND N.Z. CAIU.E ASSOCIATION AMERICA’S -MANDATE PROTEST. WASHINGTON, April (i. It is officially announced that the American mandate note (.cabled on the sth) against tlie Mesopotamia oil arrangement between France and Britain, ims been sent to Britain, France, Japan and Italy.

U.S. PROTEST

NOT GOING TO BE IGNORED.

WASHINGTON, April 6

The State Department has published its latest Mandate Note to the Allies. The Note declares that the fact that the United States has not ratified the Versailles Treaty doesn’t detract from America’s rights already acquired by her through the war. The Note adds:—lt will not lie questioned that the right to dispose of the overseas possessions of Germany was acquired only through the victories of the Allied and Associated Powers, and it is believed that there is no disposition on the part of the Allies to deny the United .States’ participation in those victories. The Note concludes: —“It is manifest that the League of Nations is without authority to bind the United States in the -Mandate over Yap Island. Moreover, the confirmation of the mandate and the definition of its terms by the Council of the League in December, lf)2U, cannot be regarded as having efficacy in respect to the United States.”

The Note was sent specifically as a reply to the latest British Mesopotamian Note, but copies have also been forwarded to the other powers.

ALLIES RIGHT QUESTIONED WASHINGTON, April

The position taken up by the United States Secretary of State (Mr Hughes) regarding the Yap and the other mandates generally represents the American Government’s attitude under the new administration.

Respecting the disposition of Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, German Africa and the German Islands north and south of the Equator, it means that the American Government has challenged the right of the Allies to make dispositions of the former German territories just as they please. The Australian Press Association learns while United States questions all the Mandates, it is not believed President Harding’s administration desires to nullify the British Dominions’ Mandates over the South Pacific territories. • . It appears Republican sentiment generally favours Australian, New Zealand, and South African suzerainty m territories over which mandates have already been granted.