Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-03
FACTORS IN Philippine SATU.
ALTON

One may get a better comprehen-
sion Of politics pertaining to the
Philippines from consideration OF
the material possibilities of that
land, Some of these are described
In the Index. a publication of the
Few York Trust Company.
The total foreign trade of the
Philippines for the calendar year
1923 totaled $2os,552.737. of which
$50 was with the United States.
During that year the Philippines
| purchased $50.664,7l0 worth OF
| American goods, or $50 of all
all goods imported into the Islands
Philippine exports in 1923 amounted
to $l2O.75c.osO OF which $s5.543,S75 or
| 71eo worth went to the United
states. 80
In 1904 Philippine foreign trade
was only $29.50O,U00. with imports
and exports evenly divided. In
| twenty years. foreign trade has in
| creased 7009e, with the United States
handling the major portion of it.
Yet our trade with the Island is con
sidered to be far short of ultimate
possibilities. '''
To put the present purcha sing
power OF the Philippines more con-
Cretely. the Islands now use every
year the output of 100000 acres ot
American wheat, $4,000 acres OF
| American cotton and 1850 acres OF
American orchards. Twelve thou
sand Ave hundred American cows
furnish part OF the annual dairy
products Of the Archipelago. -"
"Of the total American public do
main in the Islands. comprising 49,
| 100000 acres. only about 10 per cent
| is under cultivation. More than 3d.
| 100000 acres are available for agri-
cultural or industrial development
3S.o00,0o0 acres being public lands
/ available for sale, lease or home
| stealing. A big drawback to large
| scale development Is the low limit,
$500 acres, placed on leases to cor
! porations. Rubber companies, for
example, require much larger areas
for cultivation on a commercial
scale. -
philippine government bonds in
the amount of s7s.o00,000 are held by
thousands OF Americans in the
United States who feel that United
states sovereignty affords a security
which the bonds otherwise would
| not possess. In addition. at least
| sl0o,oo0,oeo of American capital is
invested in the Philippines. much of
it in fixed investments from earn
inss made under American occupa-
item" Moreover nearly 46eo of the
Philippine foreign trade is carried in
American vessels.
Considering these conditions we
may better understand why political
adventurers wish to get control in
the Philippines; also why there are
some Fipipinos who see in this de-
velepment a time approaching when
the Philippines may not secure indie
pendencs because Of interdependent
economic interests with the United
States.
In addition to these features of a
situation receiving the attention Of
political parties in this country. is
the fact that the United States by
treaty with Japan has weakened its
| hold en- those islands. notwithstand-
ing there are some who say these
are the Keystone to occidental influ-
snce in the Orient: that If We with
draw from the islands Japan will in
svitahly obtain control. AS it is, de-
velepment by American capital in
that country is undoubtedly being re-
tarded by uncertainty: what will be
the end Of the disturbance being Gre