The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-01-17
The Philippine Situation.

l ne FntItpPIlS
Just what the new administration
will do in meeting the request of the
Filipinos for their independence will
be watched with interest. One Of the
most important obstacles which him
ders the granting of these people their
freedom is the well-known designs Of
the Japanese to establish themselves
in the affairs of the island.
Writing on the subject the Tampa
Times has the following TO say:
Shall the Filipinos go free? When
we took the islands over from Spain
we promised them and all the world
that they should have their indepen-
dence as soon as they should have
demonstrated their fitness for it, by
the establishment of a stable govern
ment They have prospered greatly
under American rule. Order has been
maintained, freedom esta blished, edu-
cation of the people fostered. and
practical home rule established. They
have their own legislature. whom
they freely elect; the governor, it IS
true, is appointed by the American
government, but his duties are closely
prescribed, and rarely interfere with
the will of the natives. Still they
are not happy, but are clamoring for
the United States to redeem its early
promise. 1t is difficult to see how
/ they could have much more freedom
as an independent nation than they
enjoy under the protection of the
United States. Still, however, it is
evident that we must and will keep
our promise to them when the time
is ripe Uncle Sam is not in the habit
of forgetting his promises, or regard
ing his plighted word as mere
! scrap of paper.
IF we seem dilatory at present it
is merely because We are not fully
satisfied that the Fflipinos are able
to stand alone, and maintain their in
dependence against all the world, for
be it understood when we once turn
them loose, it will be with no strings
tied to the grant. 1t will be with in
dependence, absolute and irrevocable,
for them henceforth and forever. We
shall wash our hands of any future
responsibility, and they must stand
or fall on their own merits. 1t is
this which makes US somewhat slow
in granting their request.
THE Filipinos maintain a press
bureau in Washington to press their
claims, and a Filipino club in New
i OAh LII tli ddA1CSS bG1OIS IuS lSLISI
body recently Senior Babaldon, one of
the two resident commissioners, used
these words:
"'Senate President Quezon, Com
missioner de Veyre and myself have
repeatedly stated that we are willing
to accept independence under any of
the following terms: Under league
or association of nations; under an
American protectorate; under a treaty
of neutrality among the great powers,
or absolute or complete independence
without strings.
GIVE have no special fear of Japan
because Philippine independence, in
our opinion, is not inimical to Japan.
The Japanese are now free to come
to the Philippines, but there are less
than 1000 in the entire archipelago,
only one-twelfth as many as in Cali
fornia alone. There are not a few
who profess to believe that Japan
views the Philippines as an American
possession as distinct menace to
her from military standpoint, and
that the American flag in the Philip
pines will bring the Japanese soldiers
to our shores far quicker than the
Filipino flag. All / can say with ref
erence to this matter is that If we are
granted our independence we will en-
deavor to deal honorably with our
neighbor. Japan, just as with all
other countries, and we will then view
the future with confidence in human
ity. Smaller nations beset by graver
problems and dangers have taken a
more hazardous chance at freedom,
and have succeeded Orlando Re-
porter Star.