THE PHILIPPINES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22530, 26 March 1935, Page 8

THE PHILIPPINES

In spite of the “beaming” countenances of the Filipinos who were present when President Roosevelt signed the documents which provide the Philippines with home rule for a period of ten years, preparatory to independence, it might be over-sanguine to assume that the problem has been solved. The Filipinos have had a dogged determination to establish themselves as a State; but scarcely less concerned have they been, and understandably, to retain their trade relations with the United . States on a truly reciprocal basis. The United States, on the other hand, has been reluctant to surrender its military and naval establishments in the Philippines, but determined that, if the islands are indeed to achieve independence, they shall cease to enjoy the,trade benefits they have experienced as an American territory. The famous Hawes-Cutting Bill, which offered independence' at the cost of virtual ruin of the Philippines trade with America, and provided that the United Slates should retain an army establishment and naval bases in (he islands, was rejected by the Philippine legislature. It gave place last year to the MTluffic-Tydings Bill, which has an equally euphonious name, and is similar in character to the pre-

vious measure, the greatest concession to Philippine objections being the provision that the United States will withdraw its defences entirely at the end of the ten-year period. This measure has been accepted by the Filipinos, though perhaps not with extraordinary elation, since it leaves the economic future distinctly cloudy and uncertain. But the cable message which records the signing of the agreements which assure the Philippines immediate selfgovernment and eventual independence, makes it fairly apparent that in the United States, at least, opinion does not entirely accept the present arrangement as final. The strategic importance of the Philippines makes it manifestly desirable, in the interests of United States defence, that the islands should not become vulnerable to an aggressive Power; the infiltration of Japanese to the territory expresses this menace in practical terms. Summarised, the position might be described as one of “ wait and see.” The Filipinos are, presumably, presently happy because their desire for independence has been given definite if distant fulfilment at last; the United States Government has no immediate cause for apprehension concerning its defence links in the islands. The arrangement could scarcely be regarded as ideal, but it should serve in the meantime.