The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-11-27

Colonel Carlos p. Romulo, author
Of MOTHER AMERICA Double
day, Doran & Co.; Garden City,
N. Y: le43; $3.50. was one OF the
heroic defenders Of the Philippines
He has more recently completed q
lecture tour In this country and Il
the author Of II Saw the Fall OF the
Philippines"
In MOTHER AMERICA Colonel
Romulo points out the need for ap-
preaching all the peoples OF the
Orient in the way that America
trained the people OF the Philippines
for independence. Colonel Romulo
traces the fall Of Burma. Thaland,
the Dutch East ndies. Hong Kong,
French indo-China. British Malaga
and Singapore to the imperialistic
greed Of England. France and the
Netherlands. The natives Of these
countries argued that mo change
could be for the worse" and ac-
cepted the imperialism Of Japan not
blindly but rs the lesser OF two
evils. The hopes raised In the minds
Of these peoples by the pronounce
ments OF the Atlantic Charter were
soon dashed by Churchilrs state
ment that the Atlantic Charter
would not apply to the Asiatic coun-
tries.
Colonel Romulo who often refers
70 himself as a mixture OF Occident
and Orient, is an ardent and en-
,hus!ss;!c champion Of American
democracy. Although he points out
that the American record in the
Philippines is not perfect the Fill
p!nos showed by their defense OF
their islands their faith in the dem
ocrstic principles Of this country.
Since 1901 when military law was
abolished in the Philippines and an
American government was estab-
lished under william Howard Taft,
the Filipinos have gradually been
given a larger part in the govern
nent Of their country. The Tydings-
McDufie Act, passed in 1884. set
lo46 az the year when complete in.
dependence would be granted the
Philippines.
The burden Of Colonel Romulo's
argument in Mother America is that
all the peoples Of the Orient look
70 America as their only hope for
fair treatment because Of her record
in the Philippines. Yet the evidence
is strong that the peoples OF the
East do not regard even America
with unmixed feelings. Americas
treatment o. her own minorities has
been cited often by Gandhi Lin
Yutangs latest book. criticized by
many for IS bitterness shows clear.
ly the distrust OF the Chinese. Pearl
Bucks The Promise" points up
the same fact. that the Chinese are
tired OF empty promises. The jap
anese have used the treatment OF
the Negro for their propaganda pur-
poses knowing well TINT the colored
peoples OF Asia watched the fste
Of me eolored man IN America.
The Filipino himself has been
nistrested in this country and his
brothers in the Islands protested this
treatment. According 10 Carey Nc.
williams Brothers Under the
Skin" In 1880 there were 45.563 Fill.
pinos in this country. the large
majority IN California or them he
says: "Hedsed IN by every con-
ceivsble social tabu and by numer-
ors legal and extrslegsl restrictions.
they lead . bizarre and fantastic
existence. The intense prejudice
against them Is everywhere re.
Elected In the most scathine denun-
citations" Riots sgsinst the Filipinos
In California took place In 1923.
1910. 1880. 1892 and AZ late Is 1899
According 10 Mr.. McWillia.ns.
these disorders .. provoked serl-