The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-01-04

. Clapper

v
Policy . Model
President Uses II Is
Post Wsr Blue Print
Mssisr-Fck Doctrine
On The Way Out
Colonies h NE World
Reconstruction Plan
BY RAYMOND C-APPER
wASHrNGroN-In discussions
that concern thu shape Of things
after the war. President Roose-
welt leans heavily on the story Of
the Philippine islands ~ his
model Of what the United Nations
policy ought to be toward colonial
peoples.
In fact the President went 10
considerable length to spell Il out
N his address Nov. Is eommemo-
eating the seventh anniversary Of
the Philippine Commonwealth
government. But the Presidents
remarks attracted little atten-
tion. The significance which he
INTENDED they should have sscsp-
ID general comment
The President was . bit disap-
pointed that what he had To say
was not picked up and developed
Into q genera; discussion that
would point the way for United
Nations policy. Undoubtedly he
win return to this theme because
X 10 the only safe path that he
sees through q tangled and
treAcherous question
Mr.. Roosevelt said directly thst
the history Of Philippine inds-
pendence provided q pattern for
the future OF other small nations
and peoples and was part and
parcel Of the philosophy and
ideals Of the United Nations.
You remember the story. We
took the Philippines In the war
with Spain In 1898. But the
American people thought 1t In
congruous and unwise for the
United States to continue per-
manently . colonial status over
millions of people who wished IN
dependence. In 1885 we voted
that the Philippines should be-
come independent In 1916.
Mr.. Roosevelt emphasized how
ever that independence for CO.
lonial people can only come after
they have been trained for It.
AS General SHUTS says. free
dom Ia not q thing that can Be
imposed from without.
Mr.. Roosevelt, In analysing the
Philippine experiment. finds two
important factors necessary to
carry this pattern out successful
Nv. First, there must be a period
Of preparation, through educa-
ton and the recognition and full
fillment Of social and economic
needs. In other words. you must
establish q going society IN the
modern sense. You must have
popular education, and an eco
nomic life strong enough to car
~ the people along as a nation
Second. Mr.. Roosevelt believes
there must be q period OF train
ing for ultimate independent
sovereignty through the practice
of more and more self-govern-
ment. beginning with local gov
eminent and passing on through
the various steps to complete
statehood.
We forget that before we gain
ed our fun national independence
we had long seasoning in local
self-government and local CO.
lonial seif-government and finally
the federal government establish
ed in 1883, after q decade Of ex-
pertinent with the confederation.
out of which we learned through
mistakes.
Such training for Independence
IL essential, in Mr.. Roosevelts
Judgment. and some peoples need
more intensive training than
others and for a longer period
Each case must be judged by is
own circumstances. We have
been working in the Philippines
since the beginning Of the CEN
fury and when we decided TO
grant independence, q ten-year
training and transition period
as allowed. Some colonies
would need only ten years. some
twenty-five years. some perhaps
a indefinite period
That gives Mr.. Roosevslts gen.
srzi approach TO the colonial
question. He says the doctrine
that there Ia one master folk.
destined TO rule all other peoples
n on its way now to destruction
for ali time to come
Evidently the President Is
thinking Of no drastic changes IN
the immediate status Of colonial
empires but hopes for progress
sive evolution
We may take occasion before
long To set another example by
nathan