Evening star., 1937-08-22

enough for . people With an average
annual individual income Of 80 q
year.
The Filipino masses. who have bssn
taught to think that we are exploiting
them to our own prol1t, saw Que8un
on his recent trip abroad ~ their
knight errant, Fastening economic a.
well as political freedom. Our control
Of foreign relations did not prevent
him from travelling. But why did he
choose to visit Cuba and Mexico? Per-
haps to learn how other lands of
Spanish inheritance are governed.
Queoon speaks his soft English with 4
slightly Spanish accsnt-for IN the
Philippines our relatively brief period
Of influence Is but an overlay On that
OF the centuries Of Old Spain.
Did Batista Of Cuba forget that II
We took less Philippine sugar We might
take more Cuban? Or President Car
denas that Mexico also had tropical
products for sale? European states
men have their home beet sugar inter-
ests to consider.
Had Warrington Guessing.
However. Queson had Warrington
guessing about his confidential con-
ferenoes abroad. He complained that,
although he was President Of the
Commonwealth, he could not even
make 4 commercial treaty with the
United States. lot alone with other
nations. He held that the islands
were as ready for Independence now
as they would be eight years hence.
1t was not for Warrington to sus-
eest that. in view Of reports from the
islands, President Queson better be
back home on the Job.
The reports told Of talk Of suspend
ing the next election; Of harassed High
Commissioner McNutt; Of . heady
application Of the principles Of de-
mocracy: of stories that the new mas
ters we're planning to rule the peasants
along the lines of the old Spanish
masters-that they were already max
ing war on the Moro (MAhometan)
tribesmen of Mindanao, whom We had
brought out OF their murderous feuds
into peace and order. Philippine busi-
ness interests were uniting in vigorous
protests, predicting ruin for them ana
the public finances II Queson should
have his way.
President Roosevelt appointed John
v. MacMurray. veteran career diplo-
mat and former Minister to China,
to head . commission which left At
the end OF July to study the islands
economic situation Absentee Presi-
dent Queson, who had been ruling by
ca ble, departed about the same time
without disclosing his hand to WASH
ington. MacMurray may report con-
fdentially on matters other than those
relating strictly to his ofncial mission.
The White House has also heard
from our high Army oncers. They are
far from . unit in agreeing With
Queson's views that his army, backed
BY an ubiquitous mosquito feet. will
make the isla nds hot to take and too
hot to hold. Under the Independence
act We may intervene to preserve
order Once . native field marshal re-
places MacASthur-as one inevita bly,
must-what will be the attitude OF
the Filipino Army toward any inter-
ference? h-..
Already 10000 japanese have made
q japanese world in growing hemp in
Davao. What II the Filipino soldiers,
in their Moro War, got cfesty with
them?
The Philippines, with An AREA Al
most as large rs that OF japan proper,
have $4,000 900 people and more
arabic soil, only half Of it titled. Japan
proper has nearly 7o,000. 900 people.
Once Japan were in position to do 70,
she could bring in an almost unlimited
amount OF cheap Korean labor.
Chinas 37o,o0o,o 900 people, with
starvation always at their elbows. are
continually seeking more food. Who
can tell what would happen II forosa
such as these should converge upon the
Philippines after they had been cut
loose from American protection?
| Naval Onscers Concerned.
Naval ofhcers are concerned about
the provision Of the act which allows
US to retain = naval base In the Is
lands il We choose, when our policy
and all our naval preparations are
based on the defense Of Hawaii
Alaska, the Panama Canal and our
mainland. What il Quezon, under the
spotlight, should overplay his hand
IN Far Eastern politics7 II our naval
base were under the blasts OF enemy
guns? II American sailors and SOL
diers were killed7
| Bome old-timers ask II 1t would b
any more remarkable that. IN q wave
OF national indigna ton. We should go
to the rescue OF the survivors than
that We occupied the Philippines in
the first place Or sent 1000, 900 SOL
diers to France.
On the way We should face the
Caroline-Ladrone groups of islands
bought by Germany from Spain after
the Spanish War and mandated tc
Japan by the Versailles treaty. Herr
an enemy could establish submarine
and airplane bases which would make
the submarine danger sone Of thu
World War comparatively . matter o1
child's play. Beyond them, on the way
to Manila. We should have to pas
through narrow straits defended BY
all the powers of sea and air. closs
to their home bases.
This leads military experts to con-
! cur with the old-timers' insistence thai
We must not have responsibility with
out authority. They emphatically say
when We do give up authority. get
completely out. When We cut the last
string We have on Qsaeson also cut
the last string he has On US. He maj
not mean to, but"
They know Queson-who Is worth
knowing for his own blithe variety''
sake. He knows his people In intuitivs
rejection of their psychology. He u
their Manuel, amigo to all, their gul'
atero tbluffe)-"the gay buffer" q
his fellow students called him in tn
Catholic Fathers College in Manila.
Liked fer Free Spending.
When he Is back on the islandl
p,,hIir f,,tereat will AGAIN oontAr a