Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-14
SENATE TO ASK
FOR DEFENSE IN
PHILIPPINES
VIII Take Action to Exempt
Island Possessions by
Reservations.
JAPAN MAY PROTECT
By FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.


fathered by an influential member of
the United States Senate. Objections by
Japan are anticipated, but the author Of
the scheme believes they can be over
come His confidence seems to rest on
the conviction that a reservation originat
ing in the Senate would convey to Japan
the possibility Of nonratifcation Of the
whole series Of conference treaties If
the japanese opposed the Philippines
plan.
THE SENATORIAL
PROPOSAL.
The Senator in question is understood
to base his reservation on the conten-
tion that America is as fully entitled
to defend her principal insuIar posses
si0ns as Japan Is entitled to defend her
home islands. Although the Philippines
are islands. they are represented as
very substantial piece of the United
States with their $4,000 square miles Of
area. The principal islands Of Japan,
which may be fortified under the naval
treaty, are only 10000 square miles
in size
The senatorial proposal has the IN
qualified support of American naval ex
perts. In a spirit Of fine loyalty and
service discipline, they accepted the
limitation program fathered by the
but it is an open secret in Washington
they they believe the United States was
not governed by sound strategy in sur
rendering the right to establish a first
class naval base in the Philippines There
are reports which can, of course. not
be confirmed. that important technical
advice on the question of Pacific bases
was rejected" One Of the post-confer-
ence stories now heard for example. IS
that Elihu Root drafted the submarine
warfare resolutions and secured their
adoption without consultation with the
Navy.
The Japanese territory nearest the
Philippines is the Island Of Formosa, the
southern extremity Of which is 800 or
400 miles from the northern extremity OF
Inzon. Formosa may not be fortified
under the naval treaty. The japanese
fortified naval base nearest to the Phil
fpplnes is Sasebo. which is 1900 miles
from Manila and $50 miles from Guam.
Another important japanese base, TO-
kOsuka, is 1890 miles from Guam.
JAPAN EXPECTED
TO OBJECT.
If America acquired the right, by a
reservation to the naval treaty. to build
a naval base in the Philippines. Japan
undoubtedly would protest vigorously.
Admiral Kato made it plain at the con-
ference that Japan would accept the 5-5-3
ratio Of capital ships only if the United
States renowned the strategic possibility
of an "attack" on Japan. The danger Of
such an attack. according to Japan,
would consist mainly Of an American
Gibraltar" in the Pacific on which a
great battle feet could be based for ~
gressive operations against japan. The
japanese had the Philippines chiefly IN
mind.
nh o,,rra14 rv-,her ~ Fha rrn5y apd
Navy Journal reflects the naval senti-
ment regarding the Philippines, upon
which. obviously the projected reserva-
tion Will be founded. Under the title OF
"The Five Power Treaty" the service
paper declares that "once the ship scrap
ping program IS completed the United
States will be unable to fulfll her obi
cations to safeguard the Philippines
against japanese attack except through
the assistance Of Great Britain" The
Arm yand Navy Journal says:
Casual consideration may lead to the
conclusion that with q ratio Of ) to ia
pans we should be able to defend the
Philippines against an attack by her.
Such might be the case If there were
ample basing facilities, properly defended
for the use Of our feet in that area. But
our docking repair and other essential
facilities are now inadequate and under
Furthermore, our only two fortified po-
sitions, Manila and Guam, are too weak
II defended to make them secure; and
we have agreed not to strengthen these
dpfenses.
EXEMPTIONS BY
OTHER NATIONS.
IF England can exempt Australia and
New Zealand, from the restrictions against
Notifications and naval facilities, and
Japan can similarly exempt her main
islands It is difficult to understand
Why the United States should not exempt
the Philippines tho later having a larger
population that Australia by 30 per
cent. Compared with New Zealand they
are nine times more populous and nearly
60 per cent greater in area They
are nearly as large as the Islands Of
Japan proper combined.
1.-THE contention Of the Japanese that
the defense Of the Philippines constituted
q threat against them is rather far
fetched. Manila is 1900 milse from the
line OF Japan's vital communications with
Asia; too far to menace that line
seriously. Guam, our essential stepping
stone to Manila, is even farther from the
japanese main communications.
"Japan's naval position in the Orient
is very strong. Her mainland is close
10 the heart Of that region. In addition
she has a series of island positions be
tween Japan and the Philippines, and q
second series Of such positions cutting
tn communications between America
and the Philippines.
BRITAIN,S POSITION
IN THE EAST.
Great Britains position in the Orient
is also strong. Australia and New
Zealand are sources Of great strength.
Singapore and HOngkong the latter we'll
fortified, and the former having no limit
under the treaty upon facilities or
fortifcations enable the British to pro-
iect their entire fleet into the middle Of
an Oriental area Of operations and TO
maintain It there. Whatever chances We
might have against Japan. slim as they
are would he spoiled utterly by the in
tervention Of England against us Con
verselv, Japan's manifold advar ages
against US would be reversed completely
by British assistance to us.
only through British assistance, there
fore, can we count with any certainty
upon being able to safeguard the Philip
pines under the treaty terms
The kaleidoscope of international poll
tics has many strange turnings Now
is the occasion for the American people
to give this question Of the defense of
the Philippines their special attention
and to decide whether we should retain
the power to protect them by our own
efforts exclusively"
There is an American school Of stra-
tegic thought which believes that air
craft alone could successfully defend the
Philippines against attack Adherents of