Those gentlemen who are endeavouring 10 argue that Manila has a great future as the main port for China to the exclusion of Shang hai, will not find much encouragement in the news carried in another column that a move afoot to give. the Philippine Islands mediate independence In the interests of Amer!- can national defence, "At the most the safely of the islands is only guaranteed for the dura~ Vion of the period which must elapse before independence: passes to the Filipinos, and there a by no means inconsiderable portion of them who already regard with fear the Pos sibility of being left defenceless against the alleged policies of Japan. 'That Japanese pene ration into the islands' has been progressing for some years past, and their desires in con= nection therewith are only too well. known, The transference of Shanghai business to the islands would not provide any greater safe unrds than are afforded in Shanghai in normal Nimes, while the possibility of similar, history Defalling Manila as has happened to Shanghai {snot so small that it can be disregarded. Wits all the advantages which Shanghai has Offer to the trader, advantages such as Manila at present in no position to afford, transference to the southern port has nothing about to commend itself, Indeed the place ix quite unsuited fo serve og an entrepot for this portion of the Asiatic mainland, on account. of distance, the handling of cargo, ele, while politically it seems that any such transfer as suggested would be no more prudent than endeavouring to escape from, the present frying pan into the heat of the fire which is yet to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.