Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-28
Americas Troublesome Territ ories-By Friedrich j. Haskn

WV ASHINGTON, D. G. March 22.-The
wv fact that Ireland has finally been
given the status Of a separate politi-
cal entity virtually Independent of the rule
Of Great Britain, has a reflection in the
United States going far beyond the casual
sympathies of this man for Ireland and that
man for England.
AS matter Of fact, although there is not
much talk of it here and little agitation ex-
cept in sporadic outbursts, the American
government has several little Irelands of its
own on its hands and its conscience. Some
day these outbursts may flare up to the pro-
portions of the Irish situation which kept
British statesmen awake of nights for many
years.
Demonstrations Of sympathy with the
Irish cause on the part of Americans have
resulted in no little bitterness on the part
of the English. The feeling entertained by
thousands of Englishmen was that the ques
tion of Ireland was one purely between Eng
land and Ireland, and that, frankly, it was
none of the business of these Americans who
seemed so deeply concerned about the Is
sue.
These resentful Englishmen pointed out
that the American government holds island
possessions having real tie with the CEN
trail government, and that it would be Bit
terly resented by Americans if there should
be lot of agitation in England for giving
the Philippines independence, for instance.
And these same Philippine islands remain
a difficulty which may increase trouble for
the American administrators as time goes
on. Acquired less than rs years ago, bit
ter guerilla warfare went on for long time
before the more War-like tribes were brought
to book and accepted American government.
The islands have representation in the
House of Representatives there being two
delegates who have every privilege except
that of voting.
In the little more than two decades of the
SrzS,o orff
have sprung up in this distant group of
islands demanding either complete indie
pendence or very liberal home rule. 1nvesti-
cations have been made Of conditions time
and again, but always it has been found to
be unwise to grant this request.
Japan Is Factor
The real trouble with giving up the Phil
ippines, although it is seldom given express
sion publicly, is it's nearness to japan and
it's value a military base to the United
States. The Japanese population of the prin-
cipal islands is large and is growing con-
stantly. In the distant future, should war
come between the Orient and the Occident,
the PHILIPPINES would be of tremendous ad-
vantage to the country in possession and
able to use it's main harbors as naval bases.
The Hawaiian Islands, lying between
America and the Philippines, belong to the
United States. Foreign critics have contend
ed that America has no moral right to have
these islands However, the true Hawaiian
race is dwind1ing and dying out, and there
is no agitation for freedom of these islands
from any fancied American yoke" AS
matter of fact, these islands seem perfectly
contented and happy to remain part OF
the United States, and no doubt will so
continue.
In the Atlantic ocean, America is meet
ing with troubles from island possessions.
Only recently the newspapers have been
filled with charges and countercharges and
defenses of courses Of action concerning the
government of the island of Porto Rico E.
Mont Reilly, governor of the territory, for
that is it's official status as part OF the
United States-has been the storm center
of all this uproar. The charges came from
native politicians. The Porto Rican delegate
in Congress was bitter in his denunciation
of the conduct of the governor.
Harding Backs Reilly
The result of all of this was that Cover
nor Reilly came to Washington and laid the
whole case before President Harding. The
president promptly sent Governor Reilly back
to his post, and by this action backed him
up completely. There is reason to believe
that underneath all of the dissatisfaction
with the present governor, was the fact that
he Topped off appropriation for salaries for
sinecures which have been sources of income
to politically prominent natives for some
time. Much of the criticism was disguised,
however, under cIamor for making the is
land an Independent nation.
Not only in outright possessions, but in
smaller republics in which the United States
must of necessity take hand in maintain
ing law and order, does the germ of trouble
lie. America had to take hand in straight
ening out the situations which have arisen
in Santo Domingo and in Haiti These negro
republics from time to time have upheavals
which make necessary bit of quieting down
and pacifying by the long arm of the Amer1-