Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1920 — FILIPINOS WANT AMERICA TO GIVE INDEPENDENCE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FILIPINOS WANT AMERICA TO GIVE INDEPENDENCE

Maximo M. Kalaw Declares U. S. Cannot Consistently Refuse “Self-Determination.” By MAXIMO M. KALAW, Secretary of the Philippine Mission, Au-, thor “The Case for the Filipinos,” ‘‘Self-Government In the Philippines," etc. ‘‘When they Vhow sufficient capacity,” “When they are able to govern

themselves,” “When they are educated enough.” Thus run the answers of many Americans pressed with the question as to when the Filipinos should be granted their independenbe. Now, “ability," “capacity" and "sufficient education" —What do they mean in black

and white? Senator Shogun may think no people is capable of self-government that does not establish the judicial recall, or that has no Billy Sunday. John Smith of Somerville may think no people is capable of self-government that does not vote his democratic ticket, or go to church on Sundays. “Capacity for self-government" Is as broad and elastic as the world, and if that should be the Criterion for the granting of Philippine independence, America might as well say to the Filipinos, "I will give you independence when it pleases me to do so.” Fortunately, the American promise to the Philippines Is not based on such obscure and abstract conditions. It is based on a definite seizable thing. When America, through her Congress, officially told the Filipino people that they would be granted their independence as soon as they could establish a stable government, no abstract or obscure condition was meant. Stable government, according to American usage, means a certain, definite thing. The United States promised the Cubans the same thing, that “when they have established a stable government, then American troops would be withdrawn.” As soon as the Cuban people elected a government suited to themselves, capable of maintaining order and fulfilling all international obligations, there was a stable government In Cuba, and American troops were withdrawn.

When Congress passed the Jones law, it simply borrowed the phrase “stable government” from the Cuban history and applied it to the Philippines. The history of Philippine legislation shows that in black and white. With full knowledge of what it meant, the Filipino people accepted the Jones law and immediately began setting up the stable government required by Congress as a pre-requisite to independence. The stable government is now a fact. It Is indeed more than that; it is an undisputed fact. The official representative of the United States in the Philippine Islands, the Governor General, reported to the American Congress and the administration that “the Filipino people have established the stable government demanded by Congress as a pre-requisite for the granting of independence — namely, a government elected by the suffrage of the people, which is supported by the people, which is capable of maintaining order and of fulfilling its international obligations.” The Philippine question is therefore no longer a question of politics, argument or supposition. To the Philippine mind, at least. It is now a question of whether the Uhited States is ready to discharge its own obligations fully and completely. America went before the world in the recent war as the avowed champion of “self-determi-nation” and Filipinos cannot see how America can consistently refuse to act. The Filipino people, however, have no grudge or grievance against the American people. Theirs Is a message of friendship and gratitude. They seek independence as the natural and logical outcome of America’s policy In the islands and of America’s solemn promise to them. They come willing to give privileges and concessions not Incompatible with their national welfare.

The Filipino people are willing to accept independence under any of the following conditions: Under a League of Nations, guaranteeing its territorial Integrity; under the protectorateship of the United States for the first few Xnder a treaty of neutrality Between the United States, England, Japan, France and other powers, or even without any condition whatever —absolute and complete independence. They have no fear of Japan. Philippine independence, in our opinion, is not Inimical to Japanese interests. The Japanese are now free to come to the Philippines, but at the present time there are less than 10,000 Japanese in the Islands. There are six times as many Japanese In California as there are In the entire Philippine Archipelago. The Filipinos are willing to take their chance as a nation. Smaller nations beset by graver problems and dangers have taken a more hazardous chance at freedom, and have succeeded. /

Maximo M. Kalaw.