The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1932. AN AMERICAN DIFFICULTY.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1932. AN AMERICAN DIFFICULTY.

Britain is not the only country which lias bad trouble at one time or another with her dependencies, and of late the United States has been busily considering the position of the Ph.illippine Islands over which she has sovereignty. The question of granting independence has been the subject of considerable di&cussion in the two ileuses of Congress. It has been generally agieed that independence as requested by the inhabitants should bo granted, but there has been a considerable difference of opinion as to the time that should elapse before this should come into force, The Filipinos have been promised intio* pendeaoe, and definite stops have been taken by the United States in preparation for it; yet decisive action has been so often deferred that a doubt has been raised, particularly in the islands themselves, whether there is any real intention of honouring the promise. As long ago as 1911, within three years of American acquisition of the otouu as an outcome cf the war with Spain, Congress passed a bill to confer independence, but it was vetoed by the President. The snm c , thing has haptpeiied again and again since. In April of tills year the House of Representatives put through a similar' measure, and there was at once a ,storm in American polities., this raging in the Ronate and echoing in White House. The Secretary of State, ATi- Stlmsou, wins known to he strongly opposed, a fact a:’ I tb e more important because during his term ns Gowernor-Gsineral of the Philippines in 1928-29 lie had instituted a more liberal form of government. His opposition to what he deems proeipitate action lias still to be. encountered, for it will certainly inspire presidential veto. Whatever be the outcome of the conference that must now be held between the two bodies, it is probable, because of the attitude of iflie Executive, that the measure will bo a dead letter. This fact- wjll accord with the views of a. considerable number cf Americans, within and without the political circle. Congress has yielded to pressure from certain commercial and financial quarters, yet is not unaware, as the named periods of delay show, of this opposition. In the main, the early granting of independence lias been urged for reasons quite unrelated to either the wishes of the Filipinos or any broader considerations of international affairs in the Pacific, bio long as Hie Pliilinilies’ are American territory ho tariff war ‘exists 1 between tlieni and the United'States. Their chief' - product: measured in value, is- sugar, and it CltfO’--, continental America in large quantities, competing with the homegrown commodity as well as with impart-; from Cuba. Tndepair 1 cnee world give fi'r'/ortunity for a l""iff discrimination in favour cf the home-grower. Hence the e'Ui'>.s"gar rc'»iO"‘s-—Tmis-jnai.t notably—nn 1 these where heW sugar is jweduead have eoinbined to urge a policy that is •nlcubiled to be low chni.me’n i"l adv-u tage. Moreover. Wall Sit reel is considerably int''■rested in Ciban finanr'il vultures. Thus tin question has been r. com.ly raised ns or« of dollar- railin' than diplomacy in cxl'nil I' 1 " 1 ' 1 the promise of independence was f‘"-‘t made, this was not so. Recognition vis given to bo fact tint, un.br Spanish colonial r do, a sul stanlial iiistnlmen! of c dl-oove. nment had I con given and more, was in prospect.

Everything depended on the conduct of the native insulation, a large section of which was still insurgent. Without much guidance from experience in su. h pro ..ferns, the American Government gave pledges of extension of this local freedom, little thinkingthat serious difficulties would soon be met. Political principle, not commercial.; s'.djuistment, was ,in mind. To announce an im,mediate, or even early political emancipation of the Fi’ipi;.o« might have a sinister repercussion in China and the East Indies, to say nothing of the sacrifice of American naval advantage, in any possible development of strife with Japan.