The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-04
| Cover the World
BY WILLIAM PHILIP sIMMs -

XXTASHINGTON, May A degree of gravity
w far exceeding that of the apparent plot to
storm Manila is attached to the Philippine up
rising" Not only by the United States but by
Great Britain, Holland, France and Japan.
Whether under the American flag or indie
pendent the Philippines are regarded somewhat
in the light of a buffer state whose existence is
vital to the balance of power in the Western Pa
cifc if not to the peace of the Orient.
Outspoken British statesmen like Winston
Churchill, former first lord of the admiralty,
frankly fear the japanese will step in, once the
flag of the United States is hauled down or in
ternal difficulties subsequently begin among the
islanders.
The Philippines are regarded as stepping
stone to British North Borneo, Singapore, Aus
tralia New Zealand and India; to French Indo-
China, bare 600 miles away across the China
Sea- and the Dutch East Indies.
The Netherlands government is known to be
seriously perturbed for the security of her rich
Far Eastern possessions and reports persist that
under certain contingencies the British would
become guarantor Of their status quo.
THE United States has already granted in
i dependence to the Philippines, a common
wealth form of government will go into effect
this year to last through the decade of transi
ton after which the Philippine republic will
be inaugurated
A vast majority of the members of Con-
gress and other officials here, including, it is
said, President Roosevelt himself, heaved signs
of relief when this arrangement became law
1t was felt the United States was getting out
from under not only heavy responsibility. The
islands have cost Uncle Sam a billion dollars
all told and the lives of 5000 officers and men
but a military and naval liability as we'll
But foreign observers, particularly the
British Dutch and French, were not so elated.
Many of them shared the Churchill view even
if they did not express it from the housetops.
The Filipinos they observed lack com
mon language. There is a gulf between Chris
tians and non-Christian inhabitants Only
about half the people, they asserted, can really
be called literate. Fairly or unfairly, they
said there was gross inefficiency IN government
bureaus during the Filipinization period. Once
the American flag comes down, domestic quar-
reling will begin and revolt or civil war ensue.
FOREIGNERS recalled the Colorum insulrrec-
Il ton Of 1924, and said this was typical of
what might happen on a bigger and bloodier
scale They also cited the numerous Moro out
bursts
Should foreign Intervention become neces-
sary at some future time, it is forecast, the
United States very likely would not be the
country to undertake it. 1t even fights shy of
Cuba. Yet, should any other power step in
international suspicion would be so great that
almost anything might happen.
Historically, it is observed, the United States
was urged by other foreign powers to assume
control Of the Philippines in the first place to
prevent the Pacific equilibrium being upset by
some other power Selling them.
Many members of Congress frankly foresee
difficult period ahead OF the Philippines when
they are cut off from their American market
Commissioner Pedro Guevara has warned that
the economic provisions of the independence
law will catapult the Filipino people into hard
ships and difficulties and completely destroy
their economic structure"
When that sad day comes" he said, some
selfish nation" might gobble up the 114OOO
square miles of soil and by penetration and
assimilation "extinguish race of 100000
Christian people"