Evening journal., 1916-07-20
FILIP|NOS FAR less
EAGER FOR Freedom
See Japan a Serious Menace
if Islands Become In
dependent
NIPPON ALREADY
ABSORBING TRADE

WAOf1llNG lO4Ns July -ps Ill tAN
prospect of Philippine independence
brought nearer by the Democrats IN
Congress. there has been great re-
action in the islands themselves
against severing relations with the
Shifted States.
Reports reaching the administration
during the last few months testify to
the remarkable change of sentiment
N the islands. II is not that the vision
of independence has lost any Of its
attractiveness or that the Filipinos
have suddenly discovered their love
for the United States. What has al
tered matters is that, for the first
time, Filipino leaders have felt the
growing menace of Japan.
Their vaunted independence. the
Filipinos now fear, may become
Trojan horse. out OF which, once il
is within the walls, may emerge Nip
pon's warriors. They feel that better
than to exchange one master for a
worse one is to leave well enougt
alone.
Many Japanese in Islands.
Ever since the question Of freeing
the Philippines took definite shape in
the Jones bill in the House and the
Clarke amendment in the Senate
there has been a growing influx Of
Japanese into the islands. Whether
II is merely coincident with the de-
velopment Of Japanese trade in the
Pacific, in the pursuit of which Jap
anese traders are over-running China.
Manchuria, Siberia and even Aus
tralia. or whether it has any other
significance only the government
knows. Every move is being followed
with the greatest attention.
The diplomacy which the United
States is now being called on to play
officials here admit is not only with
Germany or England. but also in the
Far East II is a game that is pro-
ceeding not with Hollweg methods OF
publicity. but with all the oldtime
subtleties Of statecraft in which the
United States Is using the best brains
of its diplomatic corps.
So rapidly and so ruthlessly have
the Japanese been making theiI
strides in the Philippines that al.
ready Americans and American ship
psrs have begun 10 file complaints in
Washington. and tie government has
undertaken an investigation
Commerce in japanese Hands
Owing to the war and the with.
drawal of the Pacific Mail steamships
practically the entire shipping Of the
Pacific has been turned into Japanese
hands. Every pound imported from
and exported TO the United States ex
cept that borne in army transports
must be carried in Japanese vessels
And the Japanese have not been SLOW
TO take advantage of that fact
Following the plan they used OF
the Manchurian railr lads. and which
they borrowed from Germany I'll,
Japanese are employing discrimina
tory rates and rebates to foster theil
own trade American shippers are
complaining Of having their goods
left on the docks az San Francisco
Manila and Shanghai while Japanes,
wares are shown @ preference.
Japanese government is also under
stood to be secretly rebating rates
equal to the tariff duties of the in
vaded countries Thus, though Ameri
cans are protected by a 25 per cent
duty in the Philippines, Japanese
through the subsidy system, entel
them on practically equal terms.
HOW luls Sllud1on WDA h1 buA II
practical terms may be seen from
glance at the export figures from th'
islands last year. While American
trade fell off per cent. japanese
trade increased no less than p pc
cent Japan's total commerce viii
the islands is still small compared
with that Of the United States, bu
the figures are significant of what i
happening. and they are causing NJ
little concern to officials in Washing
ton
Seeking Raw Materials.
With a virtual monopoly on ship
ping to the Philippines. Japan is ais
seeking to extend her markets, and
what is more important she is seek
ing to gain control of importan
sources of raw materials.
Coal and iron, which some econo
mists have declared to be the rea
causes of the present European wal
are no less important in the DONNA
ton of the Pacific Japan. withou
iron ore Of her own, has 10 turn {
China and the Philippines for he
supplies.
Government investigations hav
shown that practically every mine i