INDEPENDENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 29, 4 February 1913, Page 10

INDEPENDENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES

'important announcement. (From Our Own Co-respondent.) SAN, FRANCISCO, Bth Jan.- - An announcement of immense potential Ttnportance to Australasia was' made by President-elect Woodrow Wilson during a speech at a birthday dinner in his honoirf at Staunton, "Virginia, on_ 28th December, when he stated his belief in the independence of the Philippine Islands. There, is before Congress a .Bill providing for Filipino independence. It ,Was- introduced by Representative Jones, , of Virginia, with whom Mr. Wilson, had a lengthy 'conference before the delivery of his speech. 'The -President-elect's reference to 'the subject" wasonly .incidental to something • else >he was, sayingj'but'it was none the less definite*, ' " The .Philippine Islands are aLpresent ourjrontier," he" said, "btlt-I hop&-we presently ,' are able to deprive ourselves of tha,t, frontier." The platform of the Democratic Party has a plank calling for the independence of the islands taken from Spain nearly fifteen years ago; but now that the new President has strongly committed itself _' to the principle of immediate promise of independence to the Filipinos the policy bids fair to become one of the. vital political issues of the early future. The main reason why those who favour retaining control of the Philippines do ,so arises from the. trade relations that have been established between the United States and the islands. Since American occupation the foreign trade of the Philippines has increased from £5,400,000 to £21,000,000, or nearly 300 per cent.' Trade with the United - States -last year amounted to £4,400,000, as compared with £800,000 before occupation. It is predicted by those interested- that some day the Philippines .will supply this country with all its tropical products. The extent of this trade is seen when it is stated -that last year the United States purchased - from all sources £122,000,000 worth of tropical products. Trading interests, and particularly shippings interests on the; Pacific^Goast, are unalterably, Opposed- fest^rfng to, the Filipinos «ibsolute.,in(Jpp"endence, fearing that, by ..so. .doing thekefcvast possibilities of 'commerce^ would* be Berioiisly *'jeopMdil«[| y %^ $g '.•«." The .most, effective t&ctor^orrf the. other side; th' oogh£ fiotr the' argument ■ most ' insisted upon) is 'the -latent'' ufiftasiness regarding future Japanese activities. "',. It seSems to be generally admitted in official .circles^ that in the event of war with , the • United States Japan would , h&ve little or no difficulty in capturing <the -Philippines, The. effort to . prevent ' this, or "to recapture the islands, would ■ involve an r immense drain in men and treasure, and the resultant benefit would be negligible except for the moral effect. . In these circumstances, there is a large body of opinion in favour, of relinquishing control of the Philippines, so that .in case 'of War America would not be weakened by defending so far-distant an outpost* The possibility of . Japanese invasion of. the islands is the aspect , of ' the case of most 'vital interest to Australasia. While a Japanese-America war would almost beyond doubt precipitate that eventuality, it is also likely -enough that the' scuttling of the islands by the United States as a matter, -of national policy would in course of time result in, their •being, over-run by. Japs. .That is a danger which present political happenings in this country foreshadow as likely to menace the Commonwealth of - Australia. It is improbable, however, that any' considerations of the well-being of the island'continent fti the South Seas will, weigh' one way or the other with . American legislators in this matter. ,