Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-16
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

would have collected only 1851, 1926
on all the imports we send to the is
lands-cotton cloths, prepared food
stuffs, machinery, books and paper
and other manufactures which they
are unable to produce. That would
be revenue to their treasury, but
added costs to the individual consum-
ers, so long as the islands have no
means of producing in competition.
Deducting the offsetting revenue,
the price of Independence would re-
main the difference between S43,972,-
535 and S9,551.125 a year.
The F'ilipinos have indicated a
readiness to reimburse the United
States the due proportion of the $50
900 900 we paid Spain at the close OF
our war for the liberation of Cuba
and the Philippines, but that would
be a small sum in comparison with
the tariff loss of some $35 100000 net
every year. Inversely considered.
that $35 900 900 is the annual rent"
America is paying for our occupation
and responsibility for the Philippines.
x x x
When the danger of invasion by
.Japan was suggested, Mr.. Bunuan
declared that that was but a bunga-
hoo, for the Japanese could not stand
the tropical climate of the Philippines,
except in the southern parts where
the altitude modified it. AS proof,
he pointed to the statistics showing
thai in 1918 there were in the Philip
pines only about 5000 Japanese, in
1924 about 1000, and now the num-
Der is decreasing" yet there is no
Japanese exclusion law; while in
Hawaii, where the American japanese
exclusion law is in force, there are
100000 Japanese, and in the Cont
mental United States 10000 more.
In reply to that, it is pointed out
bv a Government official that the
Japanese cannot meet Chinese COM
petition, and as there are many Chi
nese in the Philippines, the japanese
keep away. They come to Hawaii
prior to American ownership and
American laws, and there never has
been a Federal American law of eX-
clusion of Japanese--only a gentle
mems agreement" as to the laboring
class. While today the Japanese are
kept out of the Philippines by
Chinese cheap labor" if Japan ever
got possession of the island, she
would exclude the Chinese and open
it's opportunities to her own people
from her overcrowded land.
Dean MaXima NJ. kalaw of the
University of the Philippines pro-
poses a round-table discussion be-
tween representatives of the islands
and the United States, with a view
to arriving at a compromise arrange
ment, similar, perhaps. to the adjust
ment between England and the Free
Irish Republic, or for an AMERICAN
protectorate similar to that over
Cuba.
Gen. Aguinaldo has issued state
ment: ""I do not care if my enemies
accuse me of treachery to the cause
of my country, which in vain they
have been doing these several months.
| shall support the governor to the
best of my ability, because l am con-
vinced that he has the interest of the
Filipino at heart"
The greatest factor in the present
situation is the effort of great capital
from America to gain a modification
OF the laws of the islands. so that one
great rubber corporation might secure
100 900 or 100000 acres of land for
the cultivation of rubber. This would
provide employment for thousands of
Filipinos and develop natural re-
sources which now lie dormant. But
the Filipinos passed through bitter
experiences when the friars held all
their agricultural land, and they are
vigorously opposed to admitting any
more landed monopolies.
President Quezon of the Senate
points out that under present laws a