Evening star., 1914-10-02
deems INEVITABLE
FAR EAST CONFLICT
Representative Mann Sounds
Note of Warning in Philip
pines Speech.
OPPOSES PENDING BILL
GRANTING INDEPENDENCE
Republican Leader Foresees Loss of
Islands to Some Other Nation if
q. S. Surrenders Them.

| Warning that Philippine independence
meant surrender of American strategic
| command of the Pacific, 1.-The fighting
ground of the future" and that a con-
fict between the United States and the
orient, Commercial or otherwise" was
inevitable. was given the House yes
terday by Republican Leader Mann in
vigorous speech opposing the pend
ing administration Philippine bill.
Representative Mann declared that If
the Philippines became Independent
they would in time either be- acquired
by Japan or some other nation, ulti-
mately to be used against the United
States
IF there is to be independence of the
Philippines" said Mr.. Mann, let it be
absolute independence. If they are to
go, let them go and let Japan and
China, Germany or England take them.
as is inevitab Bile, and then we will know
what we have to fight.
Awakening of China.
CLOSE to Japan, like a sleeping child
of the world, is China, with her vast
territory. with her immense popula-
tion. What was going on in Japan a
few years ago is going on now in
China. The awakening of. China is
more marvellous than in Japan, and as
these great people in China rise to the
civilization of our modern days and
engage in manufactures and in produc-
enter into a series of competitive eff
forts with the far east which have
never been equaled in this world of
ours.
The great population of China we
say shall not be permitted to come to
our shores. At the same time we say
that China shall not be permitted to
shut out our people or our goods. Such
a position as we take perhaps cannot
be abandoned by our people, but 1t
without the power to enforce it. When
China is awakened, going out into the
world, we will have conflict on our
hands which will last for many years
possibly for many centuries.
I'VE who are now 1egislating. If we
do not bear in mind the possibilities
of hundreds of years from now and the
inevitable conflict, commercial or other
wise, which we will meet in the far
east, have forgotten the principles
which ought to actuate US.
Fight for Commercial Supremacy.
1T is as certain as that the sun will
arise tomorrow that conflict will come
between the far east and the far west
across the Pacific ocean. All which
has taken place in the world during the
History of the American race up to
now teaches US that the avoidance of
the conflict is impossible. hope war
may not come: that there will be no
conflict of arms. I have little faith that
in this world Of ours people and races
are able to meet in competition for
long period Of time without an armed
conflict. A fight for commercial su-
premacy in the end leads to a fight
with arms. because that is the final
arbiter between nations.
I'VE command the Pacific ocean to-
day. with the land that we have on
this side, with the islands which we
possess in the sea and with the Philip
render our command? I say no. If
we should let the Philippine Islands
go today without a string tied to them,
they would belong to some other coun-
could keep their independence. twenty
five or fifty or even 100 years, in the
end they would be used against us
instead of in our favor in the inevitable
conflict between competing races
q. S. Having Trouble Enough Now.
I'VE are having trouble enough now
not afford to let another nation enter:
trouble enough now in Mexico and
with other republics to the south with
out engaging in any more enterprises
of this kind.
who today would propose that we
let Japan have a naval station in
Mexico? Who today in our country
would assent if England proposed to
transfer British Columbia to Japan?
We would go to war in minute to
prevent it, because we would be op-
posed to letting Japan or China have
base of supplies on this side of the
Pacific"
When Representative Mann took the
floor Manuel Quezon. resident COM
missioner from the Philippines, had
just concluded a plea for independence
and for prompt action on the Jones bill.
which would declare the purpose of the
United States to grant independence
as soon as the Filipinos are capable of
self-government.