The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-25
JAPANESE WRITES
IMPRESSIONS ON /.
THE PHILIPPINES
Toxic Scholar Visits Islands
and Hears Views as to the
MikadO Taking Over
Possession
By "Hop'

Toxic, August 15.-(Corresponden
or the Associated Press.)-Dr. Inazd
Nftobe, Japanese scholar well known
in the United States, where he spent
several years, has just published i'm
pdessions of a recent visit to the Phil
fppine islands, and his articles have
attracted wide attention in Japan.
DR.. Nitobe said he heard many Ameri-
cans in the Philippines express belief
that the islands would ultimately pas.
into the hands of the Japanese, but he
believed the attitude of the natives
might be quite different
THE natives" said he, believe thew
are superior to the Japanese, having
enjoyed European civilization for
400 years and having used a language
derived from the Latin. AS a matter of
fact the Filipinos are no equal for the
Japanese in politics, national defense
or industry, but possessing as they id
such foreign ideas and customs, though
ancient, they rather look down upon
the Japanese. 1t remains serious ouesl
ton wheather they would condescend to-
look up to the Japanese as their SUI
periors.
They have, furthermore, not neg-
lected to pay close attention to the
Japanese administration in Formosa
and Corea. While Japans administered
ton is not without it's faults, it has
been as a rule great success, and yet.
when comparison is made between jail,
pans colonial administration and that
of America in the Philippines, they ard
widely different.
I'm the Philippines the natives enjoyI
unlimited liberty of speech; they write
and discuss as they like and no official.
intervention takes place. Viewed from
this respect alone, would the Filipino
welcome Japanese control, when he res
allied the present condition of Japan's
policy in Formosa and Corea?"
The writer referred to the many
political liberties and prerogatives
possessed by the Filipinos under AmeriI
can rule, and spoke particularly of the
fact that American teachers in the pub III
lie schools are gradually being rel.
placed by native instructors. He added II
Visit the primary schools, and you will
see the native instructors teaching very'
patriotic songs with the spirit of in
dependence the dominating note, such
as My Native Land, the Philippines, the
Philippines
I'm the high schools, native books
are used as text books, encouraging the
spirit of political independence. There
were more than so dialects In these.
islands, but today English is the COM
mon language, thus uniting the diversedi
inhabitants into one.
"Our wonder grows, then, why the
natives under such favorable conditions
should desire to discard American rule
to be replaced by that of JAPAN"
DR.. Nitobe pointed out that the
United States spends the huge sum OIL
100000 annually in the Philippines
Add to this the immovable capital all
ready invested in the islands, something
like from $25,000,000 to $30.0o0,000 more
1t was not necessary, he said, tel
enumerate the blessings that have beer
brought about to the natives by the in
flow OF such large amount of specie
Their wages have increased, and the
standard of loving has been raised
Should the Philippines be transferreoll
to Japan now, for instance, it would be
hard to gain such advantages as these
in the immediate future even II goodl
might come in the long run. The writer
added: TRY as will, it Is hard for md!
to find a reason to welcome the jail
panese. 1t seems to me that the desirdI
of transferring the ownership in somfI
fitting form comes from the AmericaHl
Inhabitants rather than from the Fiji
pinos themselves"
In conclusion Professor Nitobe dell
clared that it was absurd for Japanesdl
to talk about the acquisition of thdl
Philippines. Their cry should be Soulful
ward Ho" in commerce but not in ter1I
ritorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT. He felt con1l
fident- that <ne American government
would not object to economic enter1I
prise by the Japanese in the Philip1I
pines Indeed, he had been informed oHi
his visit that in not one single instanc@I
has a business proposition by the jail
panese been opposed by the authoriil
ties.
pa,ousa ~ their MANY advantages oveil