Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-08
EUROPE LOOKING TO u. S.
FOR PEACE LEADERSHIP
American Cooperation Hope, With
Roosevelt Expected to Take Bold Step.
Parley i'm Azores Possible.

some Of the islands IN the Atlantic,
where the weather Is pleasant in the
Winter months. The Azores were men.
toned in connection with such q rest
full holiday. There he might by mere
chance" meet some Of the European
diplomats. Mussolini himself might be
cruising in the neighborhood of that
Portuguese possession. There have
been other suggestions. but the most
likely means Of communication is the
transatlantic telephone.
For the last six weeks the British
government has been urging Washing
ton to send delegates to parley to
discuss the maintenance of article 10
Of the Washington Naval Agreement
a treaty which expires on January l..
1887. Article 10 of the Washington
Treaty deals with the on-fortification
of the Pacific possessions Of Japan,
the United States and Great Britain.
In fact. it provides for the nom
fertilization of the Philippine Islands
and Of the group of islands formerly
belonging to Germany and now under
japanese mandate.
Hope Of Islands Neutrality.
For practical purposes, 1t would
seem that such . conference is unnec-
essary because the inundated islands
already are fortified. while the Phillip
pines are not. But the reason why
President Roosevelt may soon summon
conference on this subject is that he
hopes the outcome Of such parley
might be the naturalization of the
Philippine Commonwealth.
In accordance with section II OF the
Philippine independence act. the
President Is requested (by Congress),
at the earliest practicable date, to
enter into negotiations with foreign
powers with q view to the conclusion
Of q treaty for the perpetual neutrali-
zation' of the Philippine Islands, If and
when Philippine independence shall
have been achieved"
There are two reasons why the
President Is interested in holding
Pacific conference at an early date.
One is the psychological effect sue
cessful conclusion Of such conference
might have on the other nations which
are at loggerheads at the present
moment. The other Is the fact that
Mr. Roosevelt shares the view Of the
Navy Department that the Far East
has enough explosive elements to get
this country into trouble and the
Philippines are potential powder key.
There Is nothing much to be said
about the maintenance Of article 10
Of the washington treaty. Whether it
Is maintained or not Is of little i'm
portance, because 1t Is hard to imagine
that this country. which has . definite
responsibility to safeguard the inde-
pendence Of the Philippines for nine
more years. will spend the sSoo. 0oo. 900
necessary for the construction Of mod.
ern fortincstions around the Philip
pines. And, Of course, Notifications
alone In the case Of an SUPPRESSION are
Of no avail. They have to be backed
by sea power The United States Navy
at the present time Is In good shspe
and sufficiently strong to take care Of
the mainland. A new feet, with bat
tleships and auxiliaries, would have to
be built and stationed In the Philip.
pines to protect the islands and their
Notifications. American taxpayers are
not likely TO indorse the huge sxpendi.
ture which must be involved IN de-
veloping such . program. Further
more, Il y pointed ont that such .