OCR Text |
Show Jur Pliilipes Policy The present uncertain policy In regard re-gard to tho Philippines is likely to bso lo tho I'nltcd States a great oinmerc al opportunity. Japan is 'ouchlng out for the resources of the .stands. Already hor Filipino trade has passed that of China und Germany, Ger-many, Irrespective of tho Btoppago of Oorman commerce by the war. A Japanese commercial envoy Just back from a survey of tho Islands urges his people to expand this trade nnd not only to nttompt to displace tho goods now furnished by tho United Uni-ted Stntcs nnd Croat Hrita n, but to solzo upon tho wealth of raw material materi-al In tho Philippines. Ho points out that the Islands nrc full of materials now going to waste and asserts -that theso products could profitably bo shipped to Jufan nnd thoro be manufactured into articles for export. Tho logical Amorlcan counter to that k nd of n campaign would bo tho establishment of factories factor-ies In tho Islands to utilize nntivo labor, la-bor, which Is extremely apt nt tho crntts and things mechanical. In that way tho United Stntos might dovolop nnd hold for Itself tho manufacturing posfllb'Iltles that go with a country rich In cheap lnbor and raw materials. mater-ials. But this Is out of tho question so long ns no ono knows what tho United Uni-ted States Is going to do with tho iBlnnds. Cnpltul will not "look at the Phlllpp nes until it Is certain that stablo go eminent is to bo maintained maintain-ed thero. No ono will risk an Investment In-vestment that may bo turned over to tho mercies of n native govrn-ment, govrn-ment, or rather, or natlvo no-govern-mont. ,. Therein Is tho Japanese opportunity, opportun-ity, compounded of proximity nnd of cheap labor at homo. When t comes lo Importing the raw materials of the Philippines nnd manufacturing them nt home, tho United States can not competo with Japan. Thus, if wo continue con-tinue to Idlo weakly along with no fixed fix-ed policy for tho Phlllpp nes, Japan In all probability will carry off tho great commercial prize of tho Islands. San Francisco Chronicle |