The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-05
Greatest Factor in Determining
Philippine Independence.
Recommendation win Depend
on Guarantees To Be Made.
no FOREIGN ENCOURAGEMENT
Hitchcock Looks to League of
Nations To Help Out.
ISLAND Envoy Says japan Has
NoDesigns That Way.

washington. April 5.-The Japan
csc "bugaboo" is looming up as the
determining factor in the question of
Independence for the Philippines and
other American insular possessions,
officials and legislators indicated to-
day.
With a concerted drive in prospect
10 gain statehood or a greater degree
81 independence for the possessions in
the Sixty-sfxth congress, the trend of
thought on the subject today was
shown as follows.
whether President Wilson will rec
ommend independence of the Philip
mines will depend upon what guaran-
tees of protection against foreign en-
oroachment can be given as result
OF the peace conference and the league
of nations"-military officials init
1nately associated with the Philippine
problem.
Hopes for Self-Rulc.
.T trust the new order OF things
under the league of nations program
will permit the speedy assumption OF
self-rule by the islands They DO not
wish to become a second Korea. -
Senator Hitchcock.
ssThe people always have had no
idea. other than to grant the Islands
iudependence, but the time for this
Step cannot be forecast by any one
Representative Mondell, slated to be
the Republican leader in the next con-
gress- ~. 9bi,in.
pines except to extend her commerce.
The Japanese military party received
It's death blow at the last election =
Manuel Quezon, head OF the F1llplno
mission here, asking independence.
2 limited American Protection.
The islanders propose to offset the
possibility of japanese aggression. ]
was learned today, by submitting, II
Necessary to limited American pro-
tectorate under an extension or the
open-door-in-China policy, Whict
members of the mission said would
give ample protection from danger OF
foreign threats.
American government officials
charged with supervision OF Philip
pine affairs are confident the present
government is stable and could op'
crate without American supervision
BUT are not sure it could resist tht
Influence of strong powers who migh
seek to use the strategic value OF the
islands for their own ends.
Republicans Will oppose. B.
President Wilson, for this reason, Il
expected to encounter stubborn Re
publican opposition at the outset If III
moves in the direction of Filipino in
Japan Is waiting to grab the islands
the moment America withdraws, will
be reviewed despite any arrangement
the peace conference may make t
prevent this, it is indicated today.
Republicans have long charged tina
Japan has worked under cover of tn
Democratic control of the islands t
honeycomb them with her own agents
President Wilson. however. by hi
insistence on the principle of self-de
termination has aroused the hope o
the Filipino people to a high pitch an
Has committed himself on the theor
Of their freedom. BY the principle o
self-determination the pleaN of tn
delegation from the Filipino legisla
tire, Washington, this week woul
seem to require affirmative action o.
the part of this government. This wa
promised in a general way by Score
tary Baker and by President Wilso
in his letter read to the delegatio
yesterday. Both were careful. how
ever, to avoid any flat commitment a
to Immediate independence and lei
the question in a theoretical stage.
The Filipino mission will tour tn
country and make speeches in behal
of its independence.