The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-01-07

Our Failure in the Philippines
(Minneapous Trihune)

In the current issue Of Harper's. Henry Cabot Lodge.
grandson Of the late Senator Lodge. has an article en-
Lodge recently investigated conditions at first hand in
the Philippines.
Mr.. Lodge is of the opinion that our continued reten-
ton Of the Philippine islands Is q mistake.
He comedies the United States the merit of good inten-
tons in the Philippines, but he believes that Americans
arc congenitally incapable Of approaching Malay psychol-
sprawling archipelago of tropical. Oriental islands into
a centralized nation on the western, mountaineering
plan is impractical. Because We are seeking to impose
our own psychology upon a people animated by a Stub
born psychology radically different from our own We are.
in MI. Lodges judgment. getting precisely nowhere. In
deed Mi. Lodge roundly insists that we are doing the
Filipinos far more harm than good. We are turning
crowds Of American-educated natives wanting American
luxuries into q land economically unable to support them.
Not only are we doing the islands more harm than
good. but they. In turn, according to MI. Lodge. rep
resent more of q liability than an asset to the United
States. III
The argument has been made that the islands are USE
full to US because Of their nearness to the Chinese market
which. a few people believe, will some day be very i'm
portant.
consumer Of American goods. In any event he sees no
great value In Manila as q trading post, for Manila is
three days away from South China. and a week away
from Shanghai.
Mr.. Lodge is convinced that every military argumen.
lies against the retention of the Philippines. The nearest
completely equipped base. Honolulu, is 5000 miles away.
In the event Of war, our little force In the Philippines
would merely be . suicide squad" Were we at war with
a Pacific power. the first act Of the enemy would be to
seize the Philippines. It would then be two years before
the United States fleet could function in Far Eastern
waters with an adequate train and control force, in other
words with a force capable of supplying the fleet and
Of protecting effectively the long line Of communication.
And why should We be sending our boys over to q wilder
ness twelve Thousands miles away where they would
probably be dying like flies from tropical diseases?
competition in the agricultural field greatly damages the
agricultural interests Of the United States. He does not
mention the fact that the Northwest farmer is annually
losing money because Of the free trade arrangement now
in force between the Philippines and the United States.
He does not mention the fact that the Filipino is TAX
ing q substantial part Of the home market away from
the American farmer.
Yet. in addition to the national consideration, these, to
the Northwest and to American Horticulture generally.
are serious economic considerations. In the event of war,
what could b more ironic than to send American farm
boys over to die in the Philippines for the privilege Of
truth Of the matter IS that, from: an economic point Of
view, the American farmers could afford to pay Japan
money to annex the Philippines.
It Is not 80 easy to say certainly what would be. the best
way Of Kidding ourselves Of the Philippines.
One suggestion is to trade them to Britain In exchange
sphere. Another is to give them outright to Britain. A
third IL to give them to the Dutch or the French. The
r! Japan nI has also been susg steeI'I None oue. Of these .' soIu.
lions u q simple q It appears on the surface. Britain
would probably refuse to consider . trade: France and
Holland might well refuse to take on any more imperial
Philippine. 81 Russia would probably anger Japan. and
only anger Russia. but would alarm the Dutch and send
cold chils up the splnes Of the Australians. Dangerous
intsrn:tion.l compilations might result.
OF Kidding ourselves of tho Philippines. One result Of our
free trade arrangement has been TO unfit the Fiipinos
for composition with their natural trade competitors, the
Javanese, thu Dritish NAlayans. and the Indo Chinese.
Ihe standards q living Of these Competitors are shout Z
tenth = low - the philippine standards. That is the
main reason wny[h We are In earnest about fulfilling
the independence pledse-tt Is grotesquely' unfair to the
t1ltpinos 70 keep them dependent upon the American
mArket. . market which would b cut away from them
the moment they achieved their political Independence.
The Tribune dos not feel that IL possesses the perfect
ioeYuia 1or nquldating the Philippine adventure. But
II does feel that the time has arrived Wien Amertcan
o6tjcialdom should make > thorough study Of the whole
subject. with : view 70 deciding upon that particular
international disturbance,