Evening star., 1942-07-05

an A. B. degree.
The Philippine government sent him
to the United States for further study.
After receiving his M. A. from Columbia
University in 1921 he returned to Manila,
where he became professor in English
at the State University and newspaper
editor.
Some months before the outbreak of
the Pacific war Romulo travelled ex-
tensively in countries neighboring the
Philippines. He wanted to see for him.
self how the teeming millions of Far
Eastern people were reacting under the
shadow of darkening war clouds.
He embodied his impressions In series
OF articles which won for him not only
Pulitzer Prize, but also the bitter en-
nifty Of the Japanese. Although his ar
ticles incurred the ire of Japanese mill
tarists and earned for him the reputation
even among his Manila friends of being
anti-Japanesc, Romulo insisted that he
was neither Japanophobe nor a Jap
anophile
He Angered the Japs
What particularly enraged Toxic was
not Romulo's factual articles, but his
speech before the Rotary Club of Bang
kok. Domei, the Japanese news agency,
reported that Thailand's premier re-
buked the Rotary Club after the japanese
government had filed protest w. A.
Doll, president of the Rotary Club, de-
tended the Romulo speech as objective
and made by competent authority, and
one which violated in no wise Thailand s
neutrality.
Romulo, in his speech before the Rot
ary Club, said: "An objective analysis
Of the Far Eastern crisis reveals that it
is at bottom q crisis of imperialism. 1t Is
a crisis brought about by the conflict OF
the great powers as their economic in
terests begin inevitably to collide . !.
THE principal protagonists in the
current Far Eastern drama are the
United States and Japan. The conflict
between the policies of these two coun-
tries respecting the Far East is so fun
damental that it will not easily yield to
peaceful and permanent solution.
Japan has proclaimed that she is de-
new order in East Asia by which is
meant a political and economic organi-
zation including all the countries in the
Far East over which she believes she has
the right to preside as the most power
full Asiatic power today. On the other
hand, the principal tenets of American
policy in the Far East are the main
f,f In tot11
recognition of the fruits of aggression
and the observance of the open door in
China"
Although prudently Romulo did not
predict on that occasion general war in
the Pacific, ne was pessimistic about the
situation. Despite the hopes that have
been expressed by leading statesmen of
both countries that the Japanese and
American points of view may in some
way be reconciled, personally I am not
as optimistic after what have seen and
observed in my present tour OF the Far
East" said he
Encounter With Kurusu.
When Saburo Kurusu, Japan's So
called peace envoy" passed through
Manila on mis- dramatic flight to WASH
ington, he again met Romulo, whom he
used to know as reporter when the
japanese was his country's Consul Gen.
eral in Manila.
Mr.. Romulo, the last time I saw you,
you were prince consort to the Manila
carnival queen, and now 1 find you re-
nowned writer on international affairs"
remarked Kurusu caustically. why do
you hate the Japanese SOP"
Romuio denied that he hated the jap
anese and stated that in his articles he
had only written facts.
Il understand you made your recent
tour at the representation of the ABCD,"
Kurusu said
Eyes, Mr. Ambassador if you mean by
ABCD accurate beyond cavil or doubt"
retorted Romulo
In pre-Pcarl Harbor days the initials
ABCD, which stood for Americans, Brit
ish, Chinese and Dutch, the peoples I'M
officially allied to stop the japanese,
figured often in headlines OF Far Eastern
newspapers.
Romulo, major in the Philippine
Army Reserves, was called into active
service when war broke out as press
aide to Gen. Macarthur. Subsequently,
he was taken by Gen. Macarthur into
the United States Army as lieutenant
colonel
On December 20 Col. Romulo's news
paper plant in Manila's walled section
was bombed by the Japanese and went
up in smoke. He does not believe that
the japanese bombed his plant inten-
tionally because of their hatred for
him. Il wouldn't give that much credit
for their craftsmanship" he says.
Guerrillas Fight On
In Col. Romulo's opinion, the Jap
anese were at their best behavior when
they occupied Manila. ,'They were then
anxious to win over the Filipinos still
fighting in Bataan," he says However
he later heard a Toxic broadcast beamed
at the Philippines state that on May
%, some days after the fall of Cor
regidor the Japanese burned down
Cebu, the islands second largest city,
as warning" against further Fill
pino resistance. He believes that some
diers in Mindanao have banded into
guerrilla units and are still harassing
the enemy.
Romulo's Manila home was COM
mandeered by the Japanese. He has
not heard from his beauteous wife (the
10 10 fo Lo