If the Philippine Islands are independent and we want to defend a coaling station or a naval base the island lying by the side of it will be a country over which we have no sovereignty and over which we have no control. and we would find it more difficult. in my judgmaent. to defend that than though we retained the islands themselves. Mr. President. it is not fair that we should retain a coaling station and a naval base over in Asia if we go out of the Philippine Islands. If we give them their independence. we 6ught to go out absolutely. We ought no more to attempt to retain a coaling station and a naval base in Asia than we would permit an Asiatic country to maintain a naval base on the shores of Mexico. and everyone knows that would create an eruption at once in the United States.