Evening star., 1937-04-25

OAAoA "a w AAo w 40 ICdFC. WI UdDdI
In here England would be unable to
maintain her position In China and
In Singapore. Holland doesn't want
Japan next door to her islands"
II this Is true are we not likely
TO become involved in war in the
Pacific by remaining here; a war
we would be fighting to protect the
interests OF the European countries?"
mo, I think not" he answered
after a moments hesitation. LAS
long as we are here Japan will hesi-
tate to take on both England and
the United States. The occupation
OF the Philippines also gives us a
bargaining point with England"
What do you think will happen
when the United States finally with
draWs?"
Il firmly believe the United States
will remain here indefinitely. We
must be invited by the Filipinos to
stay and we will be invited"
Then you think President Quezon
is not sincere in asking for an early
Independence"
THAT certainly was not in his mind
a few days before he left Manila. I
think he's making a bold gesture as
threat to force economic concessions
from the American Congress. He is
quite right in demanding those con-
cessions. Congress in passing new
laws imposing additional restrictions
on Philippine exports to the United
States is violating the provisions Of
the independence law. Naturally, the
Fiipinos ask why they should live
up to the letter and spirit of the
Tydings- act when the United
States does not do So"
why doesn't Quezon say frankly
that he wants trade agreement"
Politicians don't do things that
way. Quezon has preached inde-
pendence to the Filipino people for
SO many years that to save face he
must demand it in Washington and
hope that the United States Congress
will block it."
Predicts japanese Influx.
There appears to be a good deal
of sympathy in Washington for
granting an early independence. If
President Quezon should get what he
asked for what will happen here?"
The japanese will get all the trade
and move here in large numbers, as
they have in the inundated islands.
The United States will have started
Japan well on her way to being the
worlds greatest empire. The results
will be as disastrous to the United
States as to the Philippines. The
American policy of isolation will
plunge the country into a depression
worse than the one recently expert.
enced.''
What do you think about granting
independence in one or two years."
I asked two ranking American Army
officers, general and a colonel, both
| OF whom are serving their second tour
of duty in the Philippines.
We ought to get out as soon as
possible if we wish to avoid trouble
with Japan" the general answered.
She'll come right in, but what of it?
It's right in line with her natural ex-
pansion. The islands will never be
| anything but costly experiment for
us. We're not good colonizers and
there's never been any sympathy At
home for holding the Philippines. I
find people in the States have vague
idea of the location Of the Philippines
and are not interested in them"
Il can't agree with you, general"
said the colonel These islands are
one Of the last frontiers. Look at the
gold mining activity in the last few
years. American mining men are
focking out here. After the money
and lives we've invested here, why let
the japanese cash in on it"
Wont Gen. McArthur's Philippine
Army be able to put up a defense
against the Japanese?" I inquired.
Both of these military gentlemen
smiled. The general spoke: There
will probably be no formal declaration
OF war. First the Japanese will gain
their foothold economically and then
they will come in here with even less
resistance than they encountered in
Manchuria."
And Gen. McArthur's Philippine
soldiers will soon thereafter be pulling
rickshaws," contributed the colonel.
Navy Officer Gives View.
At Cavite I called on hlgh-ranking
naval officer, but he refused to be in
terviewed, saying. This Is no time
for the Navy to talk"
But at dinner party q few eve.
ningS later I heard this same officer
informally expressing his views: IT
think they'll get independence with a
favorable trade agreement and with
drawal of all American forces. From
the Navy standpoint it will be a good
move. This place is hot spot and
the United States will be well out of
it. II the appropriation for the harbor
at Wake passes Congress, that will be.
come our last line Of defense in the
Pacific, and wisely so. We must make
Hawaii impregnable. These are only
my personal opinions. Many disaeree
with me. I'm not speaking for the
Navy"
My next call was on an American
woman who has been in the Philip
pines only five years, but her social
service and educational work have
given her intimate contacts with Fill.
ipinos In every walk Of life.
To give these people their inde-
pendence in one or two years would
be comparable to taking an orphan
asylum which has had the protection
and guidance Of a wealthy, sympa-
thetic and high-minded patroness and
turning it over to gangsters," she said.
"So-called independence will mean
the exploitation of the poor by the
politicos and rich land owners I
know because battle with these men
I for every sanitary improvement In fac
tories and to keep tenant farm Sam
lilies from being evicted
Under the Commonwealth We have
seen sanitary and health conditions
lose much of the ground gained by the
United States during its years OF ad-
ministration. For example the plague
Of house flies we are having has been
| unknown in Manila for wears Un cali