Evening star., 1933-01-15
PHILIPPINE MOVE
BASED ON TARIFF
Efforts of Sugar and Cotton
| States to End Competition
Is Behind Independence.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Back Of the effort to let loose of the
Philippines is tariff problem and not
sentimentalism.
The Overwhelming vote in the House
overriding President Hoover's veto is
directly traceable to the desire Of Con-
gressmen from beet sugar and cane
sugar growing States to be rid OF
Philippine competition.
Also the competition with cotton bag
girg given by jute. produced so album
iailtly in the Philippines, developed ad-
ditional votes for the measure so that
altogether it may be said that the pro-
teotionist principle espoused now by
both parties is responsible for the heavy
vote in favor of independence.
Tariff Is Graduated.
Actually, it would take 10 years un-
der the proposed legislation for the
Philippine to be freed, but in the in
tsrtnediate period graduated tariff
goes into effect and this is what Rep
resentat.ves from sugar and cotton
states are mostly concerned about.
Meanwhile, if the measure were to
beccme a law over veto. the contest
would start in the courts as to the con.
stitutionality of allowing the sale CT
assets by Congress without the approval
ofsthc American people through spe-
cihc amendment to the Constitution.
The irony of the situation is that
While there IS p large group of Filiptnos
anxious for independence, one set oil
Anherican interests which has invested
hundreds of millions of dollars In the
isl.nd5 would be adversely affected.
wissle another set of American interests
wculd be benefited by the new tariff
wall.
Heavy Lesses Are Seen.
MANY of thu Americans who have in
vested heavily in the Philippines are
rsAd.nts Of Hawaii. Ther, will. OF
coarse. be a gradual withdrawal OF
American capital Of all kinds the mo-
rnor,t it Is apparent that a local gov
erfrent is to take over the reins ccm-
plSely. So heavy losses may be ex-
pected to American>inveStors.
Congress could, CT course, at any time
inetha next 10 years change Its mlno
arr postpone independence If II
thealght the economic situation In the
Avhipslego were getting so bad that
the Filipinos themselves would want the
sitnation reversed. The possibility OF a
recSlcst for annexation in the event tnat
the effort to free the Philippines turns
cut to be against their own interest Is
sagsa into account by those who argue
thsf the bill passed by the House ct
Iedkt makes q record of American will
linGness to keep its pledge to grant in
dependence :,
The American military group here Is
yerv uneasy about the loss OF the Philip
pifzes fo- even though the United STATED
yrN,d continue tn maintain q military
sn5 naval base this IS not the same
thrg e5 eyis.5 TO-DAY when American
rritte-v forcc7 are in possession OF al
stnH.eg,c po:nts.
: Wa Possibility Considered.
Tra Feasibility cf war with Japan is
aiv;ays considered by the military
minded, who have felt that while the
Philippines might not be successfully
defended, the battle for 1t would at
least prevent for several weeks OF
months any Japanese efforts to attack
thu Pacific Coast or Hawaii. 1t Is a
scf of first line of defense for the
American Navy.
ne question is raised here about the
cancity CT the dominant political
cr~ips in the Philippines to maintain
o-1e- rs against the outlaw tribes which
ha~c aIysvs feared disciplinary meas
ur% by an American Army, but who
y-uaid have no fear of q Philippine
corsseb bulary. All thess points are
swEpt aside, however, by majority OF
members Of Congress from both parties
wb zee only possible advantages TO the
agricultural interests Of their respec-
tivs States and who are inclined to
lsss~~ss...e future take care OF itself espe-
cieEy such international complications
a. hay arise.
tCopyright. 1e33)