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National Geographic : 1900 Jan
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THE PHILIPPINEISLANDS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT 7 developed by the United States and other lands. That same argu ment might have been advanced against Japan twenty years ago. In the limits of time at my disposal I cannot discuss Japan spe cifically beyond saying that there never was a time in the history of our relations when we were closer to that country in commerce and trade than now. Korea is just opening to us, and is providing fields of exploitation which we must not neglect. In Russian territory to the north there are also opportunities which we must fully realize in considering the value of Oriental trade. Already we are doing much there which is encouraging for the future. Before closing my references to China I cannot refrain from em phasizing the importance of our government's efforts to maintain the "open door " of trade and preserve the integrity of the Chinese Em pire. The " open door " simply means that we shall have the same rights of commerce throughout all China as are possessed by any other country and as guaranteed by the treaties. We have every thing to lose and nothing to gain by the division of the Chinese Em pire. Now, we can look forward to controlling the larger portion of her trade in successful competition with other nations; but if China is divided or the door is closed, whatever country has the predomi nant influence in a certain portion of China will establish such regu lations, directly or indirectly, as will prevent our exports from com peting successfully with its own. MATERIAL VALUE OF PHILIPPINES Now, what shall we say of the Philippines themselves in their ma terial aspects? We have already shown their geographical, strate gical, and commercial relations to the rest of the Orient. Under de pressing Spanish influences there was developed in the Philippines an annual trade of $33,000,000. Under American control and with American enterprise and capital this surely must be enlarged within the next ten years to $150,000,000. If the British, Dutch, French, and other nationalities have been successful in accomplishing the results already shown in dependencies less resourceful than the Philippines, it is a confession of weakness if we cannot outstrip them in this work. The Philippines are blessed with an unusual number of great staple products, of whose possibilities I took careful note as I traveled through the islands. Chief among these are hemp, tobacco, sugar, copra or the dried meat of the cocoanut, and rice. The raising of and the trade in these staples have been developed to their present
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