Evening star., 1940-12-02
Opposes independence
For Philippines Now
Writer Cites Dangers
Of japanese Attack
And Other PeriIs
To the Editor of The Star:

And Other PerIlS
To the Editor of The Star:
Much has been said by the Filipino
political leaders at home who have been
crying and clamoring for an absolute
freedom-immediate and complete inde-
pendence. AS a result the United States
Congress passed the McDuffy- -Tydings
bill which will grant the Filipinos their
freedom five years from now I firmly
believe that most of my people in the
United States do not favor such inde-
pendence. I doubt if that great Filipino
leader, President Quezon, who was the
first one to start the campaign, has not
changed attitude after a careful survey
as to the future security of the Islands
1t is said that wise man always changes
his mind when there is danger ahead.
Giving the Philippines independence,
at a time like the present, would be
dangerous.
Let us look for a moment at the many
dangers which the Filipinos and the
Philippine government will have to face
as soon as the care and the protection
of the strongest power in the world
today has been withdrawn.
There is no doubt, and do not ques-
tion this, that the Filipinos are intelli-
gent enough to govern themselves; in
deed, they are entirely able to run the
affairs of their own government. But,
first of all, let us consider the defense
side of the question, which is the most
vital point in the maintenance of the
undisturbed existence of an independent
nation I know, and I want our Amer
ican supporters to know, that the Philip
pines are geographically situated within
reach of tyrannical and militaristic
power, Japan. We can see what Japan
has done and is now doing to- China.
am quite sure that as soon as the Fill
pinos were set free-free from the
motherly care and protection of the
United States-Japan would spread her
wings ready to sWoop, with her claws, 10
grab the richest country in the Far
East, the Philippines. the so-called Pearl
of the Orient
Though Japan has declared time and
time again that she has no intention of
taking the Philippines, such state
ment cannot be relied upon. With her
alarming economic condition, due to
rapid increase of population, plus very
limited resources, she must do her best
to expand her dominating power. What
Japan has done with Korea. and Man
churia and what she is doing with China
at present show what she wants to do
with the Philippines.
How long would Philippine independ-
ence last? Can the Filipinos, with very
| negligible army and no navy resist a
nation so we'll prepared that even China
with her 400,000,000 population and a
much greater defense, cannot stop its
march of conquest? Perhaps 1 can
speak for my own people in continental
| United States when I say that we are
not ready to accept a complete and i'm
mediate independence in the face Of
such facts as these.
| Another question of great importance
we must look into is the fate Of hun
dreds, perhaps thousands of Filipinos
who hold responsible positions both in
the government and in private industry
in this country. Will the Philippine
government, recalling these people, be
able to give them the same kind of en-
ployment at the same pay, or will the
United States keep them after the is
lands are given their freedom?
The third problem confronting the
Fiipinos as soon as they had gotten
their independence would be the ques-
ton of tariff. Without citing statistics
let us just remember commodities which
are free from duty if the Philippines,
| like Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico,
remain part of the United States. The
one country to which the Philippines
can export articles of commerce for
good prices is the United States.
There is a great deal more to be said
against giving the Filipinos their in
dependence, but 1 wish to conclude with
important quotations from expressions
by men of great authority and know
ledge of the subject.
Francis B. Sayre, High Commissioner
to the Philippines, while in Shanghai
on April %, 1910, said: "They Ghe Fill
pinos) are as concerned as the United
States that government by consent
| Christian government-should be main
tanned. ANY threat against such gov
eminent vitality concerns the United
States. Seizure by force strikes at the
very heart of civilization handed down
| to us by our ancestors" I well can re-
member that Mr.. Sayre, before taking
his important post, was one of those
who believed that the Filipinos shoulo
be given immediate and complete in
dependence. We can just attribute his
change of attitude to his keen and
careful observation of what is going on
in the Oriennt.
| At a Senate hearing Rear Admiral
Joseph K. Taussig, former assistant chief
of naval operations, said that develop
ments in the Far East eventually might
force the United States into war against
Japan. He said: "It should be a naval
war. We can't invade Japan and Japan
can't invade the United States. But
Japan would try to invade the Philip
pines" There is no doubt of his last
statement. FIDEL c. ARQUERO.
Wants Congress to Give
FULLEST Cooperation" to England.
To the Editor of The Star: