The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-07-09
Wanted-A Colonial Policy
CNew York Times)

Probably beyond the interest or even the aware ness of many citizens of the United States this country is considerable colonial power Because ot this lack of interest the United States has drfted along through the years with only hay policy of dealing with the people who have come under our flag either through successfully fought by purchase of the territory which they live It would seem high
 time that Congress set itself to the task of formulating long range plan that would be more in tune with our principles as a nation than has been the man. agement of colonial empire heretofore.
 First to briefly sketch the growth of our colonial system In 1898 through the Spanish American War, we acquired the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam. The same year we annexed Hawaii Previously we had acquired sovereignty through treaty with Great Britain and Germany over part of the Samoan Islands and had purchased Alaska from Russia for ST 10000; American Samoa acquired in 1889 Alaska in 1867 Just before entry into the First World War in January 1917 purchased the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean from Denmark for S25,000,000. Through victory in the Second World War we now occupy the previously mandated islands of Japan in the Pacific In addition to these, have under per peual lease from Panama the territory through which runs the Panama Canal
 The question of the Philippines is settled Those islands and their 16000000 people became republic on July 4. There is little question: either, about the Territories of Hawaii and Alaska, both of which have almost complete autonomy Hawaii would like to be- come the fort. ninth State Elsewhere however the record does little credit either to good intentions or to our niplementation of them. We have imposed our will without the consent of the governed have taxed without representation, and in Samoa and Guam our Navy has governed largely on a line of military necessity and sometimes almost by whm of the succeeding military commanders.
 It is not a problem that be solved overnight. The various areas different economic social and political problems But it is not problem, either, that can be solved by doing nothing. We obligated under the Charter of the United Nations to seek solution, yet none is being sought, except by few individuals. Last October the President appointed committee of the Secretaries of State War Navy and Interior Departments to formulate policy for ad- minstration of the Pacific Islands. Yet up until last February the former Interior Secretary Harold L. Ickes told the Institute of Ethnic Relations in Washington recently, the committee had not met, or even discussed a meeting.
 If we are to live up to our ideals as nation and to our responsibilities member of the United Nations this Government should formulate without delay a policy that will express those ideals and responsibilities, and rescue colonials from the neglect to which they have been long subjected In many ways have not been as considerate Of our colonias as have Britain, France, the Netherlands and other colonial Powers whom Americans are fond of criticzng Acquisition of the Japanese mandates has made the necessity for solution even more pressing It is time doing something about it.
 When says that the world is little place, ,rye,