Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-31
Rapid Growth of Trade.


United states and the islands has grown
very rapidly since the passage of the
Payne-Aidrich tariff law. In fifteen
years, he adds, If given the proper in
centive TO development, the Filipino peo-
pie will be consuming each year full
SfnOa.o0o worth of American commodi
ties and will be supplying us with cor
responding amount of tropical products.
thus lessening to that extent the unfaVor-
able balance of trade that piles up
with countries that now supply our re-
luirements in this direction.
After dwelling on the bad results of this
Uatavorabi bic balance of trade. Mr. Pitt
declares.
III is these arguments and these facts
thai are settling the Philippine question.
an% They furnish ample assurance. We're
assurance lacking. that while the people
there VIII doubtless be given as complete
c.ltrol over their internal affairs as they
capable of undertaking. and at as
ly a date is practicable. the hand
= the tnited states must ever remain on
the lever of control and the conduc. of
t.lr government with regard 10 external
cations must always be directed from
.EaShlagtou.
III. Pitt quotes Judge J. " Dickinson.
errtary of War under President Taft
secretary Redfie!d of the Department
Commerce on the question OF Philip
Il independence His quotation OF Sec
AIRY Redfeld is to the effect that the
aited States should attempt TO create in
philippines a people capable of self
-oFernment, and that when they have ac-
/. red the habit of self-government they
Mould be allowed to decide on thei.,
utare relations with the United States.
Task of Half Century.
il is reasonable TO suppose Mr.. Pitt
,ontinues that full nifty years must
lapse before the F1iipinos will have
cached that state when the protection
AID the directive force Of strong out
SIDE power will no longer ne essential TO
heir integrity. The mutual interests
that will then have been established
Trough close commercial relations; the
development of agriculture and industry
IL the islands with the aid of American
IDEALS; the vast field of opportunity that
VII have been opened TO the ambitious
Sauth of the Philippines through famil-
.asity with the advantage q the great
EDUCATIONAL institutions and industrial
organizations of this country cannot but
cate an enduring bond of unity
Speaking of the often-repeated fear
that the Philippines would be source
a war with japan. the writer expresses
ne opinion that there is no possibility
= such a war breaking out. and that even
y such a contingency should occur Japan
could do no more than capture the is
ands and let the United States recapture
them later He says that Japan needs
The trade of the United States too much
- 20 TO war and that Russia is too great
menace
Importance of Pacific.
H. continues:
That the Pacific ocean will be the
ater of the next great commercial and
.lstrial development Of the world is
obvious for argument. The rapid peo-
x Of orr own west and its fast in
STAG activities nave accentuated the
.nc-tance of that vast ocean highway.
lie the awakening into a new life of
people that inhabit its western shores
Injected a tremendously momentous
Is into International affairs that is
Using upon the Pacific the serious
ought Of The entire world. With these
us N mind let us consider the part
Aat the United States is 10 play in the
pending drama. First we have solid
st ,rr extending from Lower Calfor-
liza on the south TO British Columbia on
,.e north The Panama c,.nal practically
Establishes our control over the com
meTce OF Central America and the Pacific
slope of South America. while Alaska and
the Aleutan Islands wall In the north
Pacific from Japan and Siberia on the
west TO British Columbia on the east.
Lying of. 1000 miles in the Pacific. as a
shield 10 the mainland. are the Hawaiian
Islands. In the southern ocean is Samoa
where we already have a naval base, and.
near the China coast. extending from
BoTneo. SumatTa and the Celebes on the
south directly in the line of the COM
rnerce of Australasia and Europe with
the far east, are the Philippines, COM
pletng. as II were. chain around the
worlds greatest ocean and insuring to
the United States permanent control of
the pathways Of commerce that soon will
reach in every direction across it
Advantages of Possession.
But the strategic advantage that is in
VOWED in possession OF this archipelago
does not constitute the only value the
islands hold for US for they are capable
Of producing practically all of our re-
1uirements in tropical products. And be-
yond this, their development and our con-
troll OF their trade will give US a distinct
and powerful advantage in competing
with Europe for the trade of China
The Panama canal is another force at
our disposal. for its opening will mark
the injection of new and powerful ele-
ment into the proposition of our trans
pacific trade Ships from the Atlantic as
well as our western coast will find i'm Ma
Mia the ideal distributing point for the
orient. and most of the direct ocean
lines will soon make this far eastern cap
ital their western terminus.