The Washington times., 1920-11-27
Japan ACTIVE
|NPH|L|PP|NES
Seeks to Arouse Natives
Against U. s, Says Manila
Chamber Of Commerce.
by CHARLES A. DALEY,
Uniyersai Service.


MANILA, Philippine Islands, Nov
l7.-The American chamber Of COM
merce in the Philippines, composed
of about 600 representative Amer
lean business men in the islands, IL
much concerned over report re,
ceived from Russian sources, by way
of Shanghai. that the Japanese, In
furtherance Of their plans to keep
American eyes averted from China
and Siberia, are cont'iving to agi-
tate Philippine independence.
READY TO START FIGHT.
to a policy Of territorial government
for the Philippines, and will lock
horns with the Nacionalista, or Inde-
pendence party, when the subject is
brought up before the new Congress
The report In question and trans
lation OF the letter received and pub
lished in the Bulletin reads;
"Thc Japanese. 10 Justify their
activity In Korea. China and Siberia
are ready TO start fight agains
America In the Philippine Islands
Juggling In the independence dream
hey Will endeavor to provoke the po
itical passions of the Filipinos
hoping by that means to provoke
lnimoslty between Filipinos and
Americans"
Conrado Benitez. writing in tho
Philippines Herald, the organ OF
senate President Quezon, head OF th'
Independence party, sees no occasion
tn, hn Ci
'ays:
Unless the United States Is tricked
into a war with Japan, which will
)f no special benefit to America. but
u great advantage to European
powers having Asiatic possessions
there Is no special reason why either
americans or Fnipinos should fee
lirectly concerned with the activities
IF Japan in Continental Asia.
"The great powers among the al
lies have wisely ceded certain sphere
Of the open door. Is this policy 30
fundamental to America that sh'
should go to war about It" We hav'
our doubts. And why should the
United States be the only nation t.
oppose Japan's expansion in north.
ern Asia? Why should she allow her
self to be used as the willing instru-
ment of other powers 10 check the
natural expansion of Japan toward
the Continent? What vital Amert
can interest is at stake: We see
none"
REFLECTS NATIVES VIEW.
This but reflects the natural Philip
pine view to let Japan have her own
way in Asia so long as she keeps her
self occupied so that she will no
think of attempting to seize tho
Philippines. which all Filip'nos dread
Dr. Sun Vat Sen. first President Of
China and one OF the great figures
behind the present movement to re-
store peace in China and check the
ambitions Of Japan, also warns OF
danger to the Philippines. Ramon L.
Navas. a well-known Philippine jour
nalist, who recently interviewed the
Canton patriot. quotes him as saying:
'Tf America leaves you at present
completely alone, you will eventually
have trouble with Japan. Should
America guarantee your independence
and you offer her in return naval
bases and commercial privileges, then
Japan will have to beat you and the
United States first before she can OBJ
tain supremacy in your country.
Japanese domination OF the Philip
pines will mean a great setback to
the principles Of democracy in the
Far Fast. With the help of America,
there Is at present established in the
Philippines the best democratic gov
eminent in the East. We cannot al
low its progress to be hampered."