Evening star., 1937-10-17

President~Mdnue QuesOn of
the Philippines and Gen. Mac
Arthur arriUing from the is
lands to confer 1Dith President
ROoseUelt. .
Center: Soldiers of the neU
Philippine National Army, set
up by Macarthur.
BY FIELD MARSHAL
DOUGLAS MACARTHUR.
Military Adviser to the Commonwealth OF
the Philippines,
AS Told to v. s. HAVEN.
TINE development Of a, defen-
sively strong Philippine nation
Is necessary to international
a peace 1t is essential to the
continued growth and spread of demo-
cratic practices in the Orient. 1t is
vital to the prosperity and to the
collective and individual liberty OF
the millions of Filipinos who, as q
new nation, are, under existing con-
ventions, to acquire within 10 years a
sovereign status.
In short, the character and adequacy
of Philippine defenses will be the
common source of important forces
and influences that are certain, during
years to come, to act and react with
far-reaching results throughout the
world
The islands, stretching their length
through 16 degrees of latitude of the
southeastern coast Of the Asiatic
Continent, lie athwart all principal
trade routes extending to the westward
from the countries bordering on the
Pacific Ocean. In that area develop
ments Of the next century and more
are destined to engage the concerned
attention of thoughtful statesmen and
business men throughout the world
Such extensive changes will occur there
in economic orders, industrial methods
and social cultures that they will
inevitably attain a universal influence
upon the prosperity and welfare Of all
civilized peoples.
U. S. Favorably Situated.
OF all western nations none is more
fortunate in the location and character
of its contact with the Far East than
is the United States in its position
in the Philippine Islands.
Parenthetically, it may be said that
by voluntarily relinquishing political
domination over the islands the United
States may have, Willingly or un-
Willingly, actually strengthened be-
tween the two nations all those ties
and bonds that are forged from mutual
respect, friendship, and consideration,
and which in the long run are the only
ones that can have a lasting effect in
furthering America s interest in this
corner of the globe.
The American effort in the Philip
pines was naturally influenced by the
political concepts underlying the prog
ress of civilization in the United
States. Three controlling precepts in
the American doctrine have been
personal liberty, religious freedom and
the maintenance of democratic in
stitutions that insure to every citizen
a voice in his own government.
AS result of IS years progress
under these liberal policies, the Phillip
pines gradually became an outpost
Of democratic civilization in the Far
East. Their standards of living were
raised to higher levels than those
enjoyed by any other Malayan people.
The. degree of individual liberty and
religious freedom enjoyed by Filipinos
came to equal those of any other
country OF the world. Illiteracy was
gradually diminished. Finally. there
was established within the islands a
government that, except for the control
represented in the power of an Ameri-
can Governor General. was almost
exclusively Filipino All those things
occurred prior to the enactment of the
Tydings- -McDuffie act in 1884.
Unprepared in Defense.
AS general result of their progress
under American tutelage the islands,
by 1885. could be considered as we'll
prepared politically to assume re-
sponsibility for their own government.
Economically they had ghring weak
ness in their extreme dependence upon
free access to the American markets.
But in the fundamental obligation
of sovereign government, namely, that
Of providing for the common defense,
the Philippines were woefully un-
prepared for independence.
A common recognition of this vital
fact was pne compelling reason
for establishing temporarily, in the
Tydings- -McDufie act. q common
wealth or transitional form of govern
ment which, in its 10 years duration,
would afford Filipinos an opportunity
to correct this situation. It was
realized that development of a reason
ably adequate defense system in the
islands was important to the United
States as well as to the Filipinos them
selves. Very naturally the United
States cannot ignore or forget its IS
years Of liberal instruction, patient
training and material as well as
sentimental investment in the Philip
pines.
In Line Of Air Routes.
To be noted too. is the Importance
the Philippines are assuming in the
Western Pacific due to commercial
airways expansion. They are at the
western end of the succession Of
islands that mark = natural air route
connecting North America and Eastern
Asia. Lying within one days airplane
flight Of the Philippines are areas in
which lives one-quarter Of the earth's
population.
Much Of the future air business sup
ported by all these people will flow
to the eastward, with consequent COM
mercial benefit to the United States,
provided only that 1t can be assured
Of ample facilities, services, and CO.
operation along the route. Every
station On the trans-Pacidc air system