Evening star., 1939-02-05

lpplneS lndefnltely and the Other Tor
complete withdrawal Immediately
Both sides have been stirred by the
Navy proposal to fortify Guam. Neither
legislation to fortify Guam nor legisla-
ton to extend trade privileges to the
Philippines IA years after independence
may get far in Congress without in
volving a re-eXamination of the whole
Philippine problem in its relation to
the foreign policy and national defense
policy of the United States.
If the United States fortifies Guam
and develops it as a first-class naval
base it reverses a fundamental policy
adopted in the Washington treaty of
1922 when 1t withdrew legitimate claim
to be naval power in the Western
Pacific Fortification of Guam and con-
verting it into a formidable base would
be taken as re-entry of the United
States into the Western Pacific as a
f1rst-class naval power and an indica-
ton of American determination to keep
the Philippines from becoming Japan
ese vassal whether or not the Philippines
would be set free Cuban style. The
American flag still flies over the Philip
pines" President Roosevelt said sgnif-
cantly at a recent press conference in
reply to a correspondents question.
Will Retain Naval Base.
The current impression is that even II
the United States will ultimately grant
independence to the Philippines, it will
retain for itself adequate naval and air
bases in the islands. just as it retains
today naval base in neighboring Cuba.
This the United States can do without
amending the McDuffie- -Tydings Phillip
pine independence Act.
Any meddling in Philippine affairs by
the United States after the granting Of
independence, whether beneficial to the
Philippines or not, would be source OF
endless embarrassment to this country.
which strongly advocates the open door"
in China. Any preferential trade rela-
tionship between the Philippines and the
United States would in effect be a
CLOSED door" policy in the islands, and
Japan would not be expected to like it.
1t would also be inconsistent with United
States policy to give an independent
Philippines any trade preferences except
possibly for limited period and for the
accomplishment of specific purpose.
1t is inconceivable for the United States
to junk all her commitments with other
foreign countries merely to help an in
dependent Philippines.
Asks immigration Quotas.
In the opening session of the second
Philippine National Assembly President
Manuel Quezon asked his Legislature to
lift the immigration ban against Chinese,
Indians and other Orientals, excepting
the Japanese. who now enter the islands
without restriction, and place them all
on a quota basis. The new immigrants
will most likely be shifted to undeveloped
Mindanao second largest island in the
Philippine archipelago. Development Of
Mindanao is one of the projects in the
economic readjustment of the Philip
pines. which is urged by the j. P. C. P. A.
To Mindanao will also go most of the
10000 Jewish refugees. whom the Philip
pine government is expected to receive
in the near future. President Quezon
said recently: MY personal attitude
with respect to the admission of Jews is
to do anything to facilitate the entry Of
few who could be absorbed and who
would not be burden to the government.
I am against an influx that would create
problems, but am not going to close the
doors of the nation to people who are
being prosecuted"