The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-05
CHAOS FEARED
BY POWERS IN
PACIFIC CRISIS
Situation Is Complicated
by Freedom Extended
to Philippines.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
scripps- Howard Foreign Editor


WASHINGTON, Aug. 5. - The
simultaneous breakdown of the
world peace machinery and the
naval and Pacific Notifications
pacts. threatens relations between
America, Britain and Japan with
chaos.
Washington and London are ex-
ploring the situation with regard to
each other and with Toxic, con-
scious that something must be done
within a dozen months at most.
The alternative to new agree
ment is international anarchy
throughout most of the Pacific and
the Orient.
Philippines Sore Spot
The Philippine Islands are ap-
preaching independence. An all
Filipino government will take them
over in November as common
wealth. Then years later, accord
Ing TO the Tydings-McDuff1e act,
they will be entirely free.
But will they remain free? A
growing number of Filipino leaders
fear not. After independence, it
was expected they would join the
League of Nations and come under
its protection.
But the league was not able to
safeguard Manchuria. Nor does
any one believe it will save Ethi-
opia. Some other plan, therefore,
is being sought-a guarantee mar
rowed down to Japan, Britain, the
United States, Holland and France.
Neutrality Treaty Sought
Congress has requested the Presi-
dent to seek general treaty neu-
tralizing the islands. Great Britain
is just as uneasy as the United
States over the future of the Archi-
pelago. Holland is afraid for her
own East Indian possessions.
Nippon, which only last year an
nounced an Asiatic Monroe doctrine,
is interesting herself in the islands
of the South Seas.
THE power that commands the
tropics" declared KatSuji Inahara,
secretary of the Foreign Affairs AS
ISOLATION of Japan, commands the
world" Portugal. Spain, The Meth
erlands, Great Britain, and other
great powers of the past and present,
he observes, were great because OF
their tropical resources-a fact
which Japan is only now beginning
to appreciate.
Free to Look Southwark
The reason for this is that Japan
has been too busy looking East and
INDEPENDENTLY in the direction
of Russia. Having fought one war
there, she may have to fight an
other. But that situation is now
being remedied by her expansion in
Asia, thus leaving her free to turn
her gaze southwark.
The South Sea Islands-including
the Philippines-cover an area ten
times as big as japan proper. The
possibilities of economic develop
ment, he observes, are enormous.
The population aggregates approx
mately 100000. Some IS per cent
of the worlds output of rubber is
produced there; hemp, 81 per cent;
copra, 70; tin, so; quinine, 95;
rice, so.
1T is to be deplored," he con-
cludes, that Japan, at present,
plays the role of an outsider in the
exploitation of this vast treasure
house."
Britain Expects Trouble
Britain foresees trouble after the
United States leaves the Philippines
unless there intervenes a complete
new understanding involving the
Pacific, Far East and related sub
jects.
Further complicating the issue is
the prospect of a naval race after
1886, when the Washington and
London naval limitation treaties ex-
pire. The Washington treaty bor-
bids further Notifications roughly
west of Hawaii and east of Singa-
pore, save in Japan proper. After
1886, it is feared that entire area
may be the scene of a fortif1catioon-
building race of catastrophe pro-
portions.
A new naval, Pacific and Far
Eastern conference, or the equival-
ent, is imperative, it is admitted
here and at London, to foreStall a
situation chock full of peril.