Evening star., 1942-03-10
Pacific Union Urged
To Assure Democracy
For Asiatic Peoples
J. M. EIizoIde, Philippine
Commissioner Outlines
PIun in Radio Forum
Continued From Page B-S)

tives to rally these people to posi-
tive action. They cannot be won
over on the basis of the old order.
That day has gone. The world
must offer these people something
more substantial than the cold COM
fort of superior protection and
patronage.
Here is half the human race, avail
able for mobilization in the defense
of democratic ideals and principles.
Here is huge mass Of people ready
to confront Japanese and German
armed might with truly enormous
resistance. Can we not find a way
to win them over to the common
cause?
Abraham Lincoln said that God
must love the common people be-
cause he made so many OF them.
In Asia we have nearly a billion
common people They must be
aroused to take their place as allies
instead Of constituting torpid
mass, oblivious of the great struggle
around them.
Something Must Be Done.
Nor is apathy and disinterest the
only alternative for these people.
Beware that Japan does not turn
them into our foes.
OF course, 1t is easy to say that
we must win these people to our
side. The problem is how to do it.
But something concrete must be
done. Time is running short. Japan
has already overrun the Philippines,
Indo-China, Thailand, Malaga and
the East Indies. Tonight Japan is
beating at the door to India
Two weeks ago President Roose-
welt, in his great address to the
Nation, made three commitments OF
tremendous importance to the Far
East. First. the President said that
the Atlantic charter is also appll-
cable to the Pacific. Then he held
forth the four freedoms-freedom
from want. freedom from fear, free
dom of thought and freedom OF re-
hgion-to the people Of the Pacific;
and finally he declared in all So
lemnity that a prime objective OF
this war is the establishment OF the
right of self determination for all
people.
In these three historic points I
gee the nucleus of a program under
which the unity of all countries
resisting the Axis may be achieved.
I do not pretend to speak with
authority or with profound judg-
ment in the suggestions I wish
to submit here. They are thoughts
that occurred to me in the gen.
eral development of tonight's topic.
A subject as complex and far
reaching as this must have the at
tention-yes, the concentratlon-of
the ablest minds in the world.
Personally, I have no doubt that
considerable thought has already
been given it by the leaders Of the
great democratic governments.
Pacific Union Could Aid.
At any rate, I make this sugges-
tion: Would it not be wise at this
time to establish the skeleton of
a-call it a Pacific union, to deal
with the social, political, economic
and strategic problems that con-
front Asia today and will need COM
plete readjustment after the war?
Such a union could Immediately
forge mighty weapons for inten-
sified prosecution of the war against
the Axis and its philosophy in the
Far East.
The organization might also begin
work at once on plan for the
social and economic readjustment
Of postwar Asia.
A declaration Of principles-a
Pacific charter. if you will-might be
worked out, involving the extension
OF liberal, progressive, free democ-
racy to Asia. Such a declaration,