Evening star., 1942-03-10
Pacific Union Urqed
To Assure Democracy
For Asiatic Peoples
J. N. EIizoIde, Philippine
Commissioner, Outlines
Plan in Radio Forum

Establishment of a Pacific union
to insure that President Roosevelt's s
four freedoms will be brought to
the half of the worlds population
which lives In Asia-was suggested
last night by the Philippine Resi-
dent Commissioner, j. M. Elizalde,
in a speech in the National Radio
Forum.
The forum is sponsored by The
Star and the speech was broadcast
over the Blue Network, being heard
locally over Station WMAL. The
text of Mr.. Elizalde's address fol-
lows:
The Second World War now so
flercely raging was scarcely fore
seen by most of the leaders OF the
United Nations. Some. viewing the
ominous chain of events Of the
years since Japan invaded Man
churia in 1881, feared an eventual
outbreak, but the great majority
were completely unprepared.
Axis Built for War.
This certainly was not true OF
the Axis leaders. They made war
their aim with q professional and
deadly thoroughness. For a decade
they built up their armies, trained
their corps Of airmen and schooled
their submarine crews for the cruel
work Of human destruction.
1t is impossible to say when the
present war actually started. Was
it in 1887, when Japan attacked
China, or in 1899 with the invasion
of Poland? The question is academic
today. 1t was not until December
7, 1941, however, that 1t ripened
into the world struggle for which
Axis leaders had been steadfastly
preparing.
We in the Philippines, like the
rest of the world, were caught un-
aWares. We had no reason to ex-
pect the shameless onslaught against
our homes and our cities.
Yet we were not completely un-
prepared. We had certain defense
measures under way, which have
proved their wisdom a thousand
times over.
Beginning in 1884, when the pro-
gram of Philippine independence
was agreed upon by Congress, the
Filipino people and their leaders
themselves accepted the chief re-
sponsibility for the future defense
of their homeland.
Planned for Independence.
Congress provided 10-year tram
sition period during which the Phil
ippines was to plan its future eco
nomic life and prepare for an inde-
pendent national existence.
With independence in sight. Presi-
dent Quezon tackled the problem
of establishing an adequate defense
force within the limits of Philippine
resources. Gen. Macarthur was one
of President Quezon's closest friends.
Out of this friendship came Mac
Arthur's engagement as military ad-
wiser to President Quezon-a step
which made available to the cause
of the United Nations the greatest
hero of this war.
Naturally, our army could not be
very large. Budgetary limitations
kept our defense preparations below
what might have been possible. But
we did our best to give about 10000
young men annually the elements
of military training AS modest as
it was, our whole program, never
theless. was severely criticized IN
some quarters as eXtravagant and
But time proved in a very dra-
matte fashion that these Filipino
citizen soldiers trained by Gen. Mac
Arthur and his staff were tough,
hardy and heroic fighting men.
When the crisis loomed in the Pa
cific last summer, President Roose-
velt had sufficient confidence in the
fighting quality of these troops to
order their inclusion as a unit Of
the United States Army of the Far
East, under MacArthur's command.
These men-less than 0,000-com-
prised the bulk of the forces that
took on the cream of Japan's veteran
army.
Provide Bright Example.
1t is useless to try to assign the
blame for the worlds unprepared-
ness. The bitter truth is that things
have been going against us-very
badly against us. The heroic stand
in the Philippines, and the loyalty
of the Filipino people to the United
States, comprise the one bright
feature of an otherwise gloomy
scene. But there is one shining
hope that can be held out tonight
that the Philippine example can be
duplicated in other parts of the Far
East and so turn the tide of war.
Look at the map Of Asia. See
how vast the continent is. Do you