New-York tribune., 1919-07-05
Dead Language

government act of 1916 held out to
the Filipinos the hope, of complete in
dependence" The preamble also stated:
at has always been the purpose of the
people of the United States to withdraw
their sovereignty over the Philippine
Islands and to recognize their indie
pendence as soon as a stable government
can be established therein"
A Filipino commission came to this
country last April to work for complete
independence" 1t was welcomed by Sec
retary Baker, who read to its members
a letter from President Wilson, then in
Paris. In this letter the President asked
Mr.. Baker to express to the mission the
hope that it would succeed Gin bringing
about the desirable ends set forth in the
joint resolution of the Legislature ap-
the United States" The Secretary of
War was explicit in his talk with the dele
CATION. IL am myself in favor of Phil
ippine independence, he said. 81 trust
the day is very close at hand when it
can be formally accomplished"
Such language on the part Of the
Administration may have been sincere
and ineligible enough three months
ago. But the astonishing developments
at the peace conference since April
have made it dead language. "Complete
independence" for the Philippines,
when the whole trend Of the confer
ence's later activities has been to re-
strict the complete independence of the
smaller peoples and nationalities and to
vest control Of the peoples and nation
alities called backward in council Of
the league of nations dominated by the
five principal powers!
Premier Clemenceau admits in his
letter to the Polish government that
the principal powers" have seen fit, for
reasons whcn they consider unim-
peachable, to impose conditions on Po-
land which infringe Polish sovereignty
and permit an appeal to the league Of
nations on questions of Polish domestic
administration. Poland attains only
qualified sovereignty and independence.
Yet Poland was once leader in Euro
pean civilization and one Of the great
powers Of the world. Her people haxe
inherited an ancient culture. But in
regaining their freedom they are asked
by those who restore it to give bonds
for the performance Of certain obliga-
tions which France, Great Britain, the
United States, Japan and Italy, similarly
placed, would certainly resent being COM
pelled to perform.
The same limitations on independence
are to be imposed on Czecho-Slovakia,
Jugo-Slavia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Aus
tria. The council of three has been try
ing to impose them on Rumania, in spite
Of the fact that Rumania was accepted
as an equal by France, Great Britain,
Italy and Russia when she entered the
war and was assured that she should
have the privileges Of an equal in de-
ternaining the conditions Of peace.
It appears to be the intention Of the
peace conference to assign Armenia to
the care of mandatory. The Arme-
mans are an ancient, civilized race, ad-
vanced in education and self discipline.
Yet they are deemed unqualified as yet
for anything but state of guardian
ship-of double guardianship, in fact
primarily by the mandatory power and
secondarily by the league Of nations
The conceptions on which the treaties
of peace will rest are dianetricaly
opposed to the old loose notion Of "com-
plete independence" for people at the
stage of political advancement which
the Filipinos have reached When wards
are being created on all sides and the
guardianship duties of the five "prnci-
pal powers" are being vastly extended
what logic Is there in holding that
the tine mas arrived to turn the
Philippines adrift IN world in which
weak and backward peoples arc every
where being brought under the tutc-
sage OF tie stronger nations? IF the
Philippines had been German colony
hey would have been assigned TO one
OF the principal powers under man
date. The United States is considering
taking mandate for Armenia. What a
paradoxical exchange of responsibilities
it would De for US to let the Philippines
20 and then take over the care Of the
Arneniansi And If we let the philiu-
pines go. where would they 20? Before
loEg they would be an orphan deposited
on the Doorstep Of the league Of natiors.
The worlds point Of view toward the
smaller and weaker peoples was revoln-
tionizcd at Paris. Our Administrations
n