Evening star., 1936-05-17
JAPANESE LEASES
PUzzL|NGQUEz
Crisis of Internal Nature
Looms as Commonwealth
Begins New Half Year.
BY JAMES G. WINGO.

bI JAMES W. w
President Manuel. Luis Quezon is
occupied with the Japanese problem
in Davao as the commonwealth OF the
Philippines begins its second half-year.
During the last six weeks President
Quezon has been making inspection
and first-hand study of alleged illegal
holdings of large parcels of land in
Davao Province at the southeastern
part Of Mindanao, second largest
island of the Philippine Archipelago.
Although the law of the Philippines
prohibits the acquisition of land by
aliens, japanese have acquired 10000
acres of agricultural land and many
more acres of forest land. Investiga-
tors of the Department of Agriculture
and Commerce have found out that
Japenese are acquiring land with the
help of Filipino lawyers through the
use of citizens as dummies. For the
use of their names these dummies get
10 per cent Of the yearly produce.
Filipinos feel that the Japanese are
in Davao to stay. Last November
when the secretary of the Department
of Agriculture and Commerce could
no longer stand the gibes of the
Manila press for his failure to cancel
illegal leases, he announced that he
would cancel several thousands of
them. Promptly President Quezon or
dered him to take no action. What
ever will be President Quezon's solu-
tion of the problem, Filipinos believe
that it will not be expulsion Of the
Japanese-possibly will be legislation
validating existing leases of land, pro-
hibiting new ones.
Bandits Eradicated.
The most dramatic achievement of
the Quezon administration in its first
six months is the eradication of BAN
dts all over the islands but especially
in the Sierra Madre Mountains in
Tayabas. the presidents home prov
ince. For u months before his
Inauguration banditry was rampant
In his determined drive against crime,
Quezon has ordered the Philippine
constabulary to break all seditiouS or
ganiZationS, like the SakdaliSt Party
which staged a rebellion in May, 1885
He has ordered civil authorities all
over the islands to wipe out "jueteng, y
the Filipino version of the numbers
racket, in their respective bailiwicks
He calls this form of gambling plain
robbery" He has also decreed that
the national lottery to be held next
month will be the last of its kind in
the Philippines.
He has shown eagerness for clean,
efficient government. He has not
hesitated to dismiss a politically in
fluential judge of the Court of First
Instance when he was found involved
in improper loans made by persons
interested in cases before his court.
Quezon made it clear that erring po-
litical friends would be punished no
less than erring political enemies.
With the help of Gen. Douglas
Macarthur, military adviser to Presi-
dent Quezon, the commonwealth gov
erment has completed the organiza-
tion of an army. More than 100000
youths of 20 years of age squiggled
their names on registration books last
month. These will form the class of
1916. They will be drafted for five
and half months training.
Moros Not Enthused.
The Mohammedan Moros in Lanao
were not as enthusiastic as their
Christian brothers in the northern
islands about compulsory military
training. Several killings in Moroland
in recent weeks have been attributed
10 the Moros' hatred of military
service.
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. the revolu-
tionary hero of the Philippines and
defeated candidate for President,
Z opposed openly the national defense
program. The Sakalists, of course,
opposed the organization of any kind
of army. Their propaganda was quite
effective in the coconut provinces,
where they are very strong.
MacArthur's defense plan requires
o standing army of 10000 enlisted
men and 1900 officers, universal mill
tary training beginning with 10-year-
old children in schools, and a reserve
defense law provides for the employ
ment Of all citizens, without distinc-
ton of age or sex, and all resources, in
ensuring the territorial integrity OF
the Philippines
President Quezon promptly can
celled oil leases covering 1,023,010
hectares held by several firms when
he learned that there had been close
connection between some of the in
corporators and high officials of the
government. Although the Philip
pines have so far not produced min
eral oil in commercial quantities, ii
Is believed that rich petroleum de-
posits exist in TayabaS, Leyte, Cebu
Mindoro, Negros and Mindano.
Prepare for Conference.
The Philippine government has been
engaged for scme time in the prepa-
ration Of data for the forthcoming
trade conference between the islands
and the United States. Frank Muir
ply, United States high commissioner,
now on his way to Washington, will
urge President Roosevelt to set an
early date for the conference. MUIR
ply, Quezon and other Filipino lead
ers have the impression that the
Roosevelt administration will amelio-
rate the severity of the economic pro-
visions of the independence act.
Impartial observers of President
Quezon say that he is the latest ad-
dition to the list of national dictators.
An avowed admirer of Benito Musso-
1ini, he has made himself his own
secretary of national defense, his
country's economic czar, the pen
dragon of the Philippine Legislature
and the undisputed boss of his party.
So far. however, the Filipinos seem to
be satisfied to follow the man they
have elected President. They still be-
lieve that he is the ideal man to lead
them during the first years of the
commonwealth.
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