862i.01/95: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:55 p.m.]
241. Your 188, April 2, 5 p.m.28 Below is a translation of the reply from the Foreign Office signed “Briand” just received.
“I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the letter dated the 4th of this month by which Your Excellency was good enough to transmit to me a memorandum from the Department of State relative to the status of the Island of Yap.
Since this memorandum was sent simultaneously to the Governments of Great Britain, Italy and Japan it cannot be answered until after an understanding has been reached between the Governments of the four interested powers at the time of the next meeting of the Supreme Council of the Allies.
I wish, however, to inform Your Excellency at once that when this question comes before the Supreme Council the representatives of France will broach the examination thereof with the greatest desire to find a solution which will give every satisfaction to the United States.
As Your Excellency knows the Government of the Republic has already done all in its power to lend its aid to the American Government in this matter. By a note dated February 18, after having noted that the decision of May 7, 1919, made no reserve concerning the mandate attributed to Japan over the islands of the northern Pacific, my Department pointed out to your Embassy that nevertheless President Wilson and Mr. Lansing had formulated in the course of a former meeting in the presence of the representative of Japan categorical reservations concerning the Island of Yap, that Baron Makino had not objected, that the question raised by the representatives of the United States should be placed in discussion and that consequently the Japanese Government was cognizant of the American reservations. The note concluded that thus there were elements for a resumption of conversations between the United States and Japan which the Government of the Republic would be happy to see result in a satisfactory conclusion.
This note was communicated on the same day to the Embassy of Japan at Paris and Your Excellency was good enough to express to my Department your great satisfaction at this communication by giving the assurance that it would be particularly appreciated at Washington. Signed Briand, Paris, April 7, 1921.”
The note of February 18th above referred to was transmitted to you by my telegram number 124, February 19, 6 p.m.29
Upon my inquiry at the Foreign Office as to when the Supreme Council will next meet I am informed that no definite date has been set.