The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1919-07-12
.SO-CaNed Japanese
Menace to a
Philippine Republic
(By Maxine NJ. Kalaw, Secretary of
the Philippine Mission)

expression OF many Americans when
they hear the Filipino plea for in
dependence. Some of those who sin
lcerely desire to comply with ctr
wishes see the specter OF Japanese
empire awaiting the withdrawal az
American sovereignty to grab tho is
lands.
Now nation grabs another terri
tory, first, because she wants. ard.
second, because it will benefit her
Responsible japanese officials have
time and again said that they do
not want the Philippines. DR.. Iyen-
aga, one of Japan's most active pub
licity agents in the United States,
once said that Japan would not ac-
cept the Philippines, even as gift.
Unless that gift should be accom-
panied not by $4,000, 900. the sum
you gave to Spain but by round
billion OF dollars to be expended for
the education and development Of
the Filipinos. Japan would sure =
decline your offer. Japan has no
use for the Philippine for coloniza-
ton purposes because its climate ia
as untitled to US for that purpose as
IL is for you. Our experience in For
mosa has convinced us OF thai"
| Many japanese believe that with
Korea, Manchura and Formosa ia
pan is sufficiently occupied with ter
ritorial domnions and that in the
long run 1t would be more advantag-
leous for her to adopt policy OF
righteousness andf air dealing with
all nations than 10 seek new fields
OF conquest. An assurance to that
effect would greatly strengthen her
friendship with the allies and conse-
Quently her own credit abroad. And
Japan knows that to attempt to take
the Philippines after the United
Safes had set them up as repub-
lie and had so proclaimed before the
world would be viewed in America as
an hostile act and direct challenge
to- the United States.
But there is another factor:
Would the Filipinos be willing to
become subjects OF Japan? The Jap
anese themselves know too well that
they would not DR.. Nitobe possibly
the greatest Japanese authority on
colonial government in an interview
printed in the Philippine Free Press
on May 6 1916 said: 1T is rash to
conclude that because we are of the
same race the FiIipinos would glad
ly invite Japan to be their ruler.
They believe that they are superior
to the Japanese. Their customs and
manners are influenced by Christian
lity; hence the unequalled progress
in the conception OF their treatment
of the weaker sex in comparison with
that prevailing in other parts OF the
east.
IF japan should ever attempt to
take the Philippines. either peace
fully or by force, says an opponent
OF independence, Carl Grow. in his
book America and the Philippines,
she would Immediately be involve
in fight much more stubborn than
the one the United States was com
PEELED to put down, 1t Is impos 'lble
To imgaine the deyoutly Catholic
Filipinos ever submitting even 10 a
semblance OF rule by nation as es-
sentially non-Christian as the Japan
ese and it is equally impossible 70
imagine a Christian world allowing
such reverse to the unbroken ad-
vance of Christianity"
The Philippines are asking only
for an opportunity for free and un-
hampered development OF their peo-
pie and natural resources, so that
they can in their humble way contr.
butte to the civilization and progress
OF mankind. This desire cannot in
ture Japan. On the contrary what
Japan desires Of her neighbors is .he