Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-08-25

tice in it's exercise they would prob
ably not be ready in forty-flve or fifty
five or any other number of years.
Why not let things drift along for
another decade or so and see what
happens? The answer is that every
year increases the dependency of the
Islands upon the United States as a
market for their products. Every
year that complete separation is de-
layed will increase the economic
crises which the new republic will in
evitably face when it no longer COM
mands the greatest of all world mar
kets but must look elsewhere for Gus
| toners. While American capital nat
urally fears the Philippines because
of the uncertainty regarding the flu
| ture, every year of delay in separat-
| ing the Islands will increase the
amount of foreign capital invested in
the development of their resources
and thus further complicate the prob
lem.
| What Would be Result!
What will happen to the Philippines
after they are given their independ-
ence? The answer is that nobody
knows. The Philippine Republic, like
| all other new nations, would simply
| have to take it's chances. Would the
| nOn-Christian tribes such as the lgO-
rots and the MOros disappear? Yes,
TIT 1Jxy
| Would the insular income be decreased
| and the funds available for govern
mental expenditures be reduced? In
evitably. Would the governmental
standards which we have required
them to maintain be lowered? With
tions and revolutions? All the his
tory of the Islands point to civil war
between races and factions and the
rise of the dictator.
| Would the islands be able to main
tain their independence against the
ruthlessness of a powerful neighbOr?
No, and over them there will always
hang the sinister shadow of Japan.
| In her desperate efforts to relieve an
overcrowded country, Japan may want
the Philippines. No one knows wheth-
err she wants them now or may want
| them later. We do know that she is
now rapidly colonizing the province
| of Davao on the Island of Mindanao
! where almost 100000 japanese have
| already been colonized On leased land.
| When Japan needs the Philippines she
will take them and no one can pre-
| vent her. All she needs is to seize
upon some pretext for their conquest.
There is certainly nothing very COM
| forting to any friend of the Filipinos
| in the pretext which Japan has used
| for the invasion of Manchuria. But
| the FilipinOs have demanded complete
self-government. AS self-determin-
ing people they must take their
chances!
Freedom, No Loss to U. s.
What would be the loss to this
| country should the Philippines be
freed? Under the given conditions,
| none. AS Judge Elliott points out.
The Islands are an economic burden
| on the United States and a military
danger" We govern them in the per-
| Torrance of duty" a duty, it
should be added, which the Filipinos
are unwilling that we should continue
to discharge and which we will dis
charge, if at all, against their op-
position.
Assuming that complete independ-
ence is to be granted at some agreed
date in the near future, what can be
| done during the interim to prepare
the FilipinOs for that final step? In
| my opinion, very little. Such a
| breathing time, as it were, will, how
ever, serve a number of useful pur-
poses. The graduated increases in
tariff duties on Philippine exports to
the United States would give the Fill
| pinos experience in adjusting them
| selves to the gradual loss of the
American market and in finding else
where an outlet for their surplus
products, usually at a lowered price!
Every one concerned, including Amer
| have advance notice of the impend-
ing change of government and a per-
iod of time in which to make plans
for the future. There would also be
an abundance of time for the Fill
pinos to plan during this transition
period for the well ordered establish
ment of the new republic and thus
| give it at least the advantage of an
suspicious start among the nations on
the great adventure of self-govern-
| ment.
Some Years for Adjustment.
This period should probably not be
less than five nor more than ten years
ample time for the accomplishment
of the purposes just described. But
the transition period from American
and pseudo control to complete Fill
pinO control should not be heightened
in the futile attempt to consummate
I old reforms, or to initiate new re-