Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-19
ARMAMENT Farley
MAY FIX STATUS
Of THE PHILIPPINES
By DAVID LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The JournaI.)
downright. 1921

Ueased Wire Service to The JournaI.)
Copyright, 1929
WASHINGTON, July 16.-The dis
armament conference to be held here
next fall may decide the future
status Of the Philippines.
President Harding himself is not
averse to a decision Of the Philippine
question with other powers. Nat
urally the United States will not de-
bate with any other government the
question whether independence shall
be granted, but on the other hand is
ready to talk over international as
poets of the Philippine problem. In
other words, when the United States
grants independence to the Philip
pines will the other powers Join in
guaranteeing the territorial integrity
Of the Philippines.
The proximity Of Japan to the Phil
ippines has led to the oft-repeated
statement on the part Of public men
in both Japan and the United States,
to the effect that the Philippines con-
stitute a possible source Of friction
in the future. Former President Taft
at one time said in a public speech
that Japan would never seize the
Philippines, because she could not
colonize there on account Of the CHI
mate. Nevertheless, military and
naval experts have always insisted
that in a possible quarrel between
the United States and Japan, the lat
ter would Immediately land an eXpe-
dictionary force and hold the Philip
pines, in order to draw American
forces to that region Of the Pacific.
This would make the United States
carry the battle 5000 miles away
from American bases of supply.
The fortification Of the Philippines
has been one Of Americas chief items
Of expense, and the prospect of keep
ing a protecting arm over the Phil
ippines even after independence has
been granted has not been relished
here.
Obviously one of the practical
questions of the disarmament con-
ference is how to reduce military and
naval expenses now borne directly by
the taxpayers. Indeed, America
might have granted independence to
the Philippines during the Wilson ad-
ministration if it had been possible
to enter into an agreement with other
governments for the naturalization
of the Philippines. 1t will be re-
called, however, that while Mr.. Will
son at first warmly advocated indie
pendence, when a bill granting the
same was passed by the house, he
reversed himself when the measure
reached the senate and was instru-
mental in finally preventing action.
His reasons were never made public,
but it is commonly supposed that
international events caused the sud-
den change.
The world war had begun, and ia
pan had engaged in it with the def
mite purpose Of achieving a dominant
position in the Far East. 1t was i'm
possible at that time to rivet the at
tention Of Great Britain and the
other powers on the matter of neu-
traliZation Of the Philippines because
all the powers were absorbed in the
war against Germany. Feeling, there
fore, that the time was not ripe for
an international agreement to fix the
status of the Philippines, Mr.. Wilson
postponed action. 1t is significant,
however, that in his closing message
to congress last December he revived
the issue and formally expressed the
hope that independence would be
granted the Philippines.
President Harding is mindful of
the aspirations of the Filipinos, but
he is actuated also by desire to
save America future expense in
maintaining costly Notifications and
military and naval forces in the
agreement the Philippines could be a
matter Of common concern to all the
powers. Indeed, there would be no
necessity for the maintenance Of an
American fleet in Asiatic waters II
all the nations entered into solemn
pendence of territorial integrity of
the Philippines when they were set
free by the United States.
The question Of whether freedom
shall be given the Philippines is a
domestic matter, and as such the 9TH
conference next fall would not feel
warranted in tackling it any more
than outside nations have felt dis
posed to interfere as between Ireland
and Great Britain. The United States.
on the other hand, by taking the in
itiative and offering for discussion
simply the international aspect of
the Philippine question, will remove
all doubts which the powers might
otherwise have had as to the proprie-
ty of their entering into the discus
AS Mr.. Harding himself indicated,
the scope of the disarmament confer
ence will be determined when 1t
actually gets into session, but no
secret is made here Of the fact that
the United States would like to have
all the powers, including Japan, go
on record as guaranteeing the terri
torial integrity of the Philippines
whenever independence shall be de-
cided upon by the United States. #
this can be accomplished, one Of the
possible sources of friction and war
in the Far East will have been re-
moved, and Americas military and
naval expense can correspondingiy