BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1921, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

CABLE NEWS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT.

\AUSTRALIAN & N-.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] AMERICA ANI> JAPAN. DEFINITE STATEMENT WANTED. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 18 It is understood that the Harding administration heartily favours extracting from Japan a definite statement concerning the date on which Japan w iH withdraw from Shantung, not only legally, hut actually: The Administration also strongly favours maintaining an open door policy in China, being determined to assure American merchants the same opportunities as Japanese in Chinese markets. The two questions are felt to be intimately connected. It is recalled that Mr Harding when a Senator, favoured Senator Norris’s reservation ion the Shantung settlement by which China would be substituted for Japan in taking over the former German rights there. YAP ISLAND. (Received this day at 9.30 a-" 1-) WASHINGTON, April 18. The State Department has published ' five notes between United States and Japan regarding Yap. The firs io o was sent to Japan on 9th Novemb last and stated United States unde - standing was that Yap was not included in the Supreme Councils aw a former German islands north of the equator to Japan, and that the ap question was reserved until a fuit C date so that an agreement could be reached for its internationalisation as a cable station. Japan replied that she was not able to consent to any proposition excluding Yap from the territory committed to its charge by the Supreme Council. The next American Note stated there appeared no difference of opinion regarding the reservations, when Mr Lansing made them respecting Yap at the Paris conference. The Note cited four days on which Mr Wilson and Mr Lansing served notice in the Council that Yap should not be included in the mandate award to Japan. The Note declared United States cannot agree to Yap being included in any agreement of the Supreme Council, but even assuming Yap was included in the Japanese mandate, it was inconceivable that other Powers should not have free unhampered access to the island for the landing and operation of cables. Japan replied that as the Japanese delegates were not present at the Council meetings referred to, the Government has no means of ascertaining what views the American delegates ex- j pressed, but assuming Mr Wilson and j Mr Lansing had stated that Yap should j be internationalised, Japan contends f the United States position is in-sup- j portable unless it proves that the Su- j premo Council accepted such recom- , mendations and decided to exclude Y ap j from the territory assigned to Japan. The last United States note on sth [ April, is similar to that sent to Bri- j tain, adding that United States is unable to agree to Japan’s last mentioned contention.

AFRICAN FINANCE. (Received This Day at 11.30 a.m.) CAPETOWN,. April 18. The Minister for Railways, in intnducing the railway budget in the Assembly stated the accumulated deficit at the end of 1920 was 2* millions. He estimated th e expenditure during the coming year at 26 millions and revenue at 254 millions, making the total deficit three millions. He hoped to wipe out the deficit by rigid economy and postponing the proposed extensions. The Minister stated the railway revenue was falling off to an alarming extent.