The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-30
By PHILIP KINsLEY.

Of the Pacific Basin must include
he qnestion OF the United States fu-
lure .poiicy regarding the retention
md defense Of the Philippine Islands.
Japan win seek to bring this sub
Iect n some phase before the WASH
lngton. conference. as her nearness
70 our Asiatjc wards gives her a
vital Interest in the stability of gov
eminent there and in the military
strength of the islands.
ThaYer does not seem to be any
reason for alarm at present over
japanese menace in the Philippines.
rhere Is far more Of a Chinese men
nee there The Chinese control S.
per cent OF the commerce and In
iustry Of the islands. They sit In
every port and in every barrio. the
silent, clever middlemen and retail
.rs Of everything.
Natives Fear Japan.
There are about 10000 Chinese
md less than 10000 Japanese in the
Stands. The natives accept the Chi
nese without resentment. but look
lpon,- The Japanese with fear. One
If the chief reasons why the great
mass Of the Filipinos hesitate to ask
'or complete independence Is the fear
hat Japan will swoop down upon
hem
An! American who runs a cattle
-anch In the hills around Sarangani
iulf in Southern Mindanao told me
hat while riding one day he found
Two Japanese sketching. He reported
hem as spies to the constabulary. but
nothing was done. A lumberman on
he chores Of Malampaya Sound. one
II the finest harbors In the world. In
he Island Of Palawan. said that jap
inese had been seen in the hills around
here. II Is assumed that the Jap
anese are in complete possession Of
the military. naval, and Industrial po-
.entialities of the islands. But we have
special agents" in Japan and China,
so there Is nothing alarming about
hat
Japanese Colonies Not Growing.
The Japanese colonies In the Philip
pines are not growing. The Filipinos
have put up bars to land ownership
and have given poor protection to set
tiers. and many japanese have been
killed and robbed. With n free Philip
pines, Japan might md 1t wise to
step in, but with the American 1ag
Hyinr over Corregidor there Is little
1anser of any move by Japan south
ward unless trouble arises over some
thing else 1t Is the situation In China
that must be smoothed out first
Japan wants a reduction of forth
cations in the Philippines and al
Hawaii, a weak Guam. and unforti-
fed Dutch Harbor. This would leave
her mistress of Asiatic waters A
auasi-official News agency publication
in Japan said recently:
The action of the United State:
on The question of the PHILIPPINES Is
considered a test of its sincerity In
the coming Washington conference
Let the Philippines be put under In
ternational control. with the United
states having the same voice a
the other powers.
"A mutual understanding not te
fortify Guam and the other Islands
would satisfy the most pessimistiS
regarding the conference.
Independence Impossible Now.
So far as independence for the
Filipinos is concerned, I have indi-
Gated in several cable dispatches
that the internal situation there
made such a move impossible foi
the administration. Gov. Gen. Wood
and w. Cameron Forbes, former
governor general, have reported 70
Mr.. Harding that the Filipinos are
not able to stand alone.
America, Great Britain and Japan
must hold and protect the ISLANDS
for many years. II America con-
tinues her present program. as Is
probable, the question OF defense
must be settled for II is admitted
NV ,xperts that the islands as al
present defended constitute a MILL
Earv weakness and an invitation 70
my strong power.
NIndependence probable would re-
suit in giving the islands to Japan.
Pubic men of Japan say they DC
not want the Philippines-now. THIS
"a probably true, in the sense tha'
AZ would not be worth while In
view Of the hostile attitude Of the
natives. Japan has her hands fuil
IN rai-wan and Korea.
It.is claimed also that the climate
of The Philippines Is unsuitable 70
the Japanese. I think this Is faf
,rora true There are many places
In the Philippines where not only
Japanese but Americans can WORK
with comfort and profit. In the
dream of the greater Japanese en-
pire.. the Philippines have the place
An international protectorate
would be hard to enforce and op'
crate and would not take into &C.
couAt the millions in money anc
the american lives that have beer
spent TO bring these islands to theii
present condition.
The best solution Of the defense
problem, IL Is said by experts who
have been on the scene. Is airplanes
mines and submarines. A thousand
airplanes, II Is said, costing abou'
the price of one battleship, woult
make the islands impregnable: Thi.
witk an adequate submarine back
ing.F Manila, of course. Is protected
now, but there are two or three
other. places on Luzon where al
army could land without trouble
II would be for the scout planes Il
attack the transports in this emer'
esncy.
In the defense plans the forth
CATION of Dutch Harbor becomes the
problem for the conference