Washington, Feb. 28.
Mr. Paul V, McNutt, U.S. High Commissioner to the Philippines, recommended to President Roosevelc at White House conferences last week an eventual re-examination of the entire political status of the Philippines, usually well-informed circles reported here to-day. No official comment was forthcoming.
Influential members of the House of Representatives Naval Affairs Committee told the United Press here to-day that they expected the Proposal for reconsideration of. the political status of the Philippines to receive vigorous opposition in Congress and from the War and Navy departments.
They said this impression was obtained from the recent testimony of Admiral W. D. Leahy, Chief of Naval Operations, during current hearings on the Vinson. Naval Expansion Bill Admiral Leahy said in effect that the United States fleet, even with the twenty per cent, increas? in strength provided in the Vinson Bill, could not defend the Philippines against a strong Asiatic naval Power.
Members of the Committee pointed out that the Admiral clearly inferred that it would be "suicidal" to atterapt to protect the Philippines in time of war because it would involve splitting the fleet—United Press.
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