The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-08
SEE POLITICAL PLAY
IN FREE PHILIPPINES
European Circles Show Great
Interest in Practically a
Wilson Promise.
Special Gable Dsspdtch TO TIRE suN.
Copnrtoht. 1919: oil riohts reserced.

PARIS, April THE request of the
Philippines for immediate independence
and especially Secretary Bakers reply.
seemingly committing President Wilson
to approval thereof. has aroused great
interest in European circles.
1t is the general belief that to grant
independence. or even broader autonomy
at this time. would be a clever political
stroke. Some observers said to-day they
thought President Wilson would do It,
but added that ''of course the United
States would keep some sort OF pro-
tectorate to insure preferential treat
ment. and that the action. therefore.
wouldn't be as ma gnanimous as 1t would
look"
Observers here see two practical mo-
tiNes that President Wilson might have
In making such a step at this time.
First. II would be to regain the prestige
he Is sure to lose II the outcome of the
conference is a patched up peace rather
on the }ines OF old time European diplo-
macy than the localized peace the Pres
ident has preached and led many. espe-
cially the small Municipalities and the
masses in all countries, to expect.
The President could then say: Il did
my best. This is the best peace could
get In the face of European diplomacy;
but in the Philippines I had free
| hand; see what 1 did there"
Second. to put It up to Great Britain
to follow suit by granting freedom to
some of her dependencies. President
Wilson has said Ireland is an internal
| British question. So Is the Philippine
question internal At one stroke Presi-
| dent Wilson might hope to obtain free
| dom for Ireland, or falling that. 10 allay
| ish-American indignation in the
United States.
Such a step would likewise give to the
| President a free hand In dealing with
| the question OF the United States be-
| coming a mandatory for Armenia or
| other portions OF the Turkish Empire
| During January. when the conference
| first discussed the mandatory question
Premier Lloyd George proposed TO Pres
! ident Wilson that the United States as
| sumo responsibility for the various ter
ritories, Samoa, Palestine and Armenia.
The President hesitated to commit,
| himself and replied that the United
| States did not desire further expansion
To this both Premier Lloyd George and
| Premier Clemenceau replied that the
United States was committed TO a colo
| NAL policy. as evidenced by the posses.
sion OF the Philippines and Porto Rico
and they continually pushed this point.
New japanese Compiled lions.
| 1t is believed that II was with this ar.
| gument President Wilson was prevented
from strenuously objecting to the acqui-
| sition by Great Britain OF mandatory
power over large tracts in Africa and
| Asia.
| II information obtainable here re-
! fleets TOXIC accurately, independence for
the Philippines involves new japanese
| complications. Japan desires free i'm
migration to the Philippines. and this
| will be included in Japan's final pro-
posals for a League of Nations amend
| ment. II is said here that Japan would
press Immediately for letting down the
| bars in the Philippines, thereby creating
a situation more remote but no less
acute than the one Just averted by the
| cancellation OF japanese coloniZing prof.
| ects in Mexico.
Japanese feeling toward the United
I States is none too cordial Just now, not
| only because of American opposition TO
| the inclusion of racial equality
clause In the league covenant. but be-
cause OF the Corean development. Some
japanese here believe that President
| Wilson Is indirectly to blame for the
| Corean uprising. They say he encour-
| aged the Corean National Independence
| Union. which from its headquarters in
| Shanghai is said to have conducted a
propaganda to incite the Coresn people
| t. strike for independence.