Evening star., 1921-07-16
Guarantee of Territorial In.
tercity by Powers Factor
in Independence.
US. HOPES TO SAVE COST
OF PROTECTING ISLANDS
Questions of Freedom to Be Do
mestic Affair, But May Be Ex-
pedited by Assurances.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,


The disarmament conference to be
held here next fall may decide the
future status of the Philippines
President Harding himself is not
averse to a discussion of the Philip
pine question with other powers. Nat
urally the United States will not de-
bate with any other government the
question of when 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
Philippines 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 public speech that
Japan woud never seize the Philip
pines. because she could not colonize
there on account of the climate.
Target I'm Case of War,
nevertheless, military and naval ex-
perts nave always insisted that In Dos
sible quarrel between the United States
ana Japan the latter would Immediately
land an expeditionary force and hold the
Philippines in order to draw American
torces to that region of the Pacific This
would make the United States carry the
battle 5000 miles away from American
bases OF supplies.
The fortif1cation of the Philippines has
been one OF Americas chief items of ex-
fha -
protecting arm over the Philippines even
after independence has been granted, has
not been relished here Obviously, one
OF the practical questions of the disarma-
ment. conference is how to reduce mill
tasy and naval expense, now borne
directly by the taxpayers. Indeed,
America might have granted indepen-
dence to the Philippines during the WILL
son administration IL it had been possible
to enter into an agreement with other
eovefHments for the naturalization of
the Philippines.
fsAststs FINAL Action.
1t VIII Be recalled, however. that while
Mr.. Wilson at first warmly advocated in
dependence, when a bill granting the
same was passed by the House he re-
versed himself when the measure reached
the ssnate, and was instrumental in
finally preventing action. His reasons
were never made public, but 1t is COM
monty supposed that international events
caused the sudden change.
The world war had begun, and Japan
had Engaged in it with the definite
purpose OF achieving a dominant po-
sttton in the far east. 1t was impos-
sfble at that time to rivet the atten-'
ton OF Great Britain and the other
powers on the matter Of neutralixa-
tion 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.
to Congress last December he revived
the issue and formally expressed the
hope that independence would be
granted the Philippines
Mindful of Aspirations.
President Harding is mindful of the
aspirations Of the Filipinos, but he is
actuated also by a desire to save
America future expense in maintain
ing costly fortifications and military
and naval forces in the Philippines.
when, by international agreement, the
Philippines could be made a matter
Of common concern to all the powers
Indeed. there would be no necessity
feet in Asiatic waters IL all the na.
tions entered into a solemn agree
ment not to violate the independence
of territorial integrity Of the Philip
pines when they were set free by the
United States.
The question of whether or not free
dom shall be given the Philippines is
a domestic matter. and as such the
other powers attending the disarma-
ment 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. ;.
VIII Remove All Doubts.
The United States. on the other hand,
by taking the initiative and Offering
for discussion simply the interna-
tional aspect of the Philippine ques-
tion, will remove all doubts which the
powers might otherwise have had as
to the propriety of their entering into
the discussion.
As Mr.. Harding himself indicated,
the scope of the disarmament con-
ference will be determined when IL
actually gets into session, but no Sc
cret 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 StateA
II 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 correspondingly be
diminished from year to year.
Copyright. 1921