"The division of Asia serves only to hinder progress! Where is development? Where is openness?"
These were the words of Theodore Roosevelt himself, delivered with his characteristic resolve.
"A sharp-tongued one, isn't he…" the chairman muttered.
On the surface, Roosevelt's declaration was a noble plea for peace, warning that any interference with the Philippines would provoke America's ire. But the chairman understood the true intent behind the statement. It was a calculated move—a test.
"Look, we've been patient, haven't we? Do you know how many years the Philippines has been bleeding us dry? If this keeps up, we'll have no choice but to dive into the Asian market ourselves."
The advantages of American industry were as simple as they were staggering: endless natural resources and a flood of immigrant labor, relentlessly fueling production.
