THE PHILIPPINES.

Southland Times, Issue 14634, 26 January 1911, Page 6

THE PHILIPPINES.

AHD THE YELLOW PEK2L. (Special to the " Times.”) CHRISTCHURCH. January 25. An interesting visitor to Christchurch at present is the Kev. Monsignor Fowler, of Sioux City, lowa, U.S.A. Monsignor Fowler, who is staying at the Presbytery in Barbadoes street, was tor some years private secretary to Archbishop’Hardy, the first American Archbishop of the Philippine Islands. He spent four years in the islands and had ample opportunity of observing the condition of the people and their attitude towards the American Govt. American opinion, said Mons. Fowler, was sharply divided on the question of the annexation of the Philippines. There was strong feeling that .Spain was well rid of them, and America had spent many times the 20.000.iJ00 dollars originally paid for the islands. The value of the islands as a strategical position was regarded as the chief just ideation Tor their retention tinder the American Government. The Filipinos were getting far more titan they ever received under Spain, but they would never be satisfied with anything less than independence. ■'They don’t like us as well as they liketl the Spaniards,” said Monsignor row lor regret fully.

Monsignor Fowler said that his observations in the Philippines and in Japan had convinced him that file yellow peril was no myth. The universal opinion in America was that .sooner or later there would be war with Japan, which had eyes on the Philippines.