The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-04
THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE
WEST INDIES.
An Interesting Proposal by n Cos.
mopOllte observer Of Events.

mopollte observer Of Events.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir:
Properly understood, the most porten-
o event Of the European war since
the fall OF Warsaw was Delcasse's
resignation from the French Cabinet.
One conjecture concerning this
event Is that Japan. called upon by
Great Britain TO take a hand In the
fighting i'm Europe, quoted u the price
of her participation the immediate
transfer of the French colonies In
Indo-China. Delcasse refused to pay
this price. he went to London and told
the British Cabinet hat as long az
it had not adopted conscription and
modified the 1900, 900 men still avail
able for military service in England
he did not see why France should
submit to a voluntary ainputation of
one OF her best colonies; he set forth
the claim hat Frances sacrifices in
proportion to her resources, both In
men and territory, had been consider
ably in exces of those OF Great Brit
ain and that the latter should con-
tribute the same mount OF effort be-
fore asking her ally to go any further.
Regeneration on the part OF the Brit
ish Cabinet and a marked disinclina-
ton to appreciate the full weight of
the argument adduced by Delcasse
caused the latter to resign.
Admitting this version to be true;
granted that the wal has progressed
TO a stage Of deadlock which can be
lrnix.,. ..f,, -. a.,.ls. lnt, tha A1lt,o
can look for such help from two direc-
tons: RumaEia and Greece In the
Balkans and Japan in he Far East.
Granted further that effective assist
ance from Greece and Rumania IL
problematical, to say the least. the
Allies have no alternative but to get
at any price Japan's cooperation.
An army OF 400 900 seasoned Japa-
nese troops. operating either on the
Russian front or in the Balkans, would
certainly turn the scales In favor OF
the Allies and bring the war to a
speedy conclusion. Upon this predi-
cate the question narrows Itself down
a. to how Japan's assistance should
be secured.
Here | venture a suggestion which
al first sight may seem academic but
rs a number Of great events in history
have originated in academic concep-
tons. even as such the following sug-
gestion should deserve attention:
The Philippine Islands have proved
an expensive. unproductive and en-
harrassing incumbrance to the United
states; their final disposition has been
and Is now ~preoccupying the most
serious minds in America.
They would be very valuable to
Japan. and ! dare say more valuable
than French I~ndo-Ch!na.
On the other hand. Great Britain
and France have still some possess
sicns in the West Indies and Central
America which are OF doubtful value
to them: these same British and
French West Indian Islands and
Guianas have become very precious
to the United States as part Of the
system Of defence and control Of the
Panama Canal.
Why should not Great Britain and
France exchange their West Indian
and Central American possessions for
M philippines and hand the Philip
pines over to Japan as a consideration
for her active participation in the Eu-
ropean war?
An arrangement of this kind would
eliminate once for al, any cause for
friction or conflict between the United
states, Great Britain and France.
II would dispose Of the spectre Of
British navalism.' so cleycrly evoked
10y the pro-German press in America
10 the detriment Of England, which
mas created antagonism against the
British, even among the non-hyphen-
atcd Americans.
1t would place the Panama canal
virtually under the Joint protection of
the United States. Great Britain and
France and thus Great" "A new sul.ddr-
ity between the three demoCraCles and
a condominium over the Atlantic.
Il would satisfy the legitimate as
p!rations OF Japan and rcrnove a po-
tential cause OF conflict between her
and tho United States which has
caused so much uneasiness and alarm
n both countries Of late years,
l. would enable the United States Ia
devote henCeforth all It's time and at
tention to Central and South America.
the latter 10y their propinqu!ty being q
natural field for American activities,
II would confirm and consolidate as
an international dogma the Monroe
Doctrine, keystone OF AmeriCan!sm.
As regards England, an arrangement
and solution OF this nature would in
volve for her less los. of prestige
than being salved by pygmy Balkan
Powers.
The cooperation OF Japan would at
ford qualification 70 the pride and self
respect of the British subjects In Asia
and consolidate England's dominion II
India on a more humane and Just
basis than heretofore.
Could the men now IN contro. OF thc
destinies of the United States, Grca,
Britain and France rise to the heights
If farsighted statesmanship and un-
dertake a territorial readjustmen'
which may prove as beneficial to a.
concerned as the Louisiana deal put
through by Napoleon? SPERIANo,
NEW YORK, November 3