The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-10-12
Philippine
Problem
Status of the Islands May
Be Brought Before Ann
ament Conference By
Japan.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
tCopyrIEht by The ln;e.tEencerD

Washington. CC;. IL Toxic cable
grams saying Japan would ike 20 bring
Up the status OF the Philippines when
the conference On Far Eastern questions
Is held here next month has brought out
several informal sN1reSSicns OF opinion
at this end which Indicate that even
that problem will not Ne IasuperaeIe
The Japanese contention that Amer
can fcrt!acattoHs are regarded BY Japan
as purely offensive Is not seriously re-
garded n Wash!ngton. where q division
OF opinion has always prevailed as 10
the real value OF focttfy!nS the arSn!-
pelago. OEe set OF military men IN
our government thinks al money oeinS
spent In Philippine fortiticatons IS
wasted, not only because the United
states does not intend to become MILL
tary nation. and O: course will never
keep an army overseas big enough 20
Justify the ma .ntenance OF tortiac,,;'ons'
but because the Philippines are accesSl-
bic 20 an attacking army from 100
many places.
This schoo! Of army thought believes
that any Notifications which are n.
effective rad Better be given M and
tina, rec!procaMy Japan might be In
duced to stop .or:lfyinS some OF the
Pacific Islands under her control.
Manila naval Base
Those American military and naval
men who favor large Qualifications IN
the Philippines argue that even admit
ting that the Philippines cannot be de-
Tended from an expe1!;!onary attack or
considerable size. 4 wou,d be helpful 10
the United states to be able TO hold tho
Philippines IN an emergency until the
navy could BRING reinforcements IL
is further contended that Manila could
be used effectively as naval base.
Here again the question OF how largo
q fleet the United States Will have 10
maintain, or rather can AFFORD 10 main
tain. in the Pacific. comes into discus
sion. with the American nav divided
between the Atlantic and Pacific. tho
building OF u naval base simply 10 care
FOR the vessels now in the Pacific Is not
considered altogether sound. On the
other hand. an immense expenditure
would be required for = really large
naval base sufficient to do the work
expected OF tho American navy In an
emergency in the Far East.
% there Is a divergence OF view even
among our own military and naval eI-
rer's as 20 what ought 70 DO done
about certifying the Philippines ana II
would not be surprising 10 see our own
delegation finally persuaded to oner 70
halt further military expenses in the
Pnil!pu!nes r The Japanese curtailed
their naval and military program TOO.
America 1t thu Ksln
As tor the suggestion from TOXIC
tina: the Philippines might be given
their Independence and placed under In
ternatlonal control. that OF course Is
horest!,, question which tho United
Sta.as need not discuss with the Japan
csc The prevailing view inside the
Harding administration Is that the Phil
!pp!res are not ye; ready 10 be cast on
20 sh!tt for themselves and that Il
would be hest tor the Fil!piaos x Amer
!ca retained a guiding hand for while
longer Great Britain incidentally
would not be happy 70 see the principle
O, characterization adopted 80 close
20 India and there are other powers with
En- Eastern possessions which would
pr.ce u SEQ the status quo maintained
with res?ec: % the Philippines.
There Is good ground for the bettef
thai .he Japanese themselves are Ovid
ed upon the question Of ADVANTAGE or
disadvantage to Japan In the grant or
Independence by the United States 10
.ha reop,s OF tho .sla als. CONNER
c.aI,v Ja7an has prof1ted immensely by
Americas possession OF the Philippines.
No. only has a big tourist travel been
developed which always Includes japan
on any trip u the Philippines. but the
trade OF Janan With IN" Philippines has
grown ny leaps and bounds since the
United States took over the Islands from
Span.
The Philippine commissioners hero
are anxtcus that the United States gov
eminent include them rs members or
the armament conference In some adj
visory way so that when the interests
o. he Filipino people are discussed
:hci- representatives may be present at
east 20 learn what Is goinG on. They
wan: 70 be Consulted. The probabilities
are tina: !: they make formal request
FOR such status II may he granted as
there ;s no particular objection to 1t
among liberal minded offc!a who see
IN the move an act Of courtesy 10 tho
Philippines which are an integral part
OF the whole Far Eastern problem.