IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 312

Urging the President to authorize the transfer of ownership of one of the

bells taken from the town of Balangiga on the island of Samar, Philippines, which are currently displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base,

to the people of the Philippines.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOVEMBER 7, 1997

Mr. UNDERWOOD (for himself, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr.

FILNER, and Mrs. MINK of Hawaii) submitted the following resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Urging the President to authorize the transfer of ownership

of one of the bells taken from the town of Balangiga

on the island of Samar, Philippines, which are currently

displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, to the people

of the Philippines.

Whereas the United States of America and the citizens of the

Republic of the Philippines have shared historic and political ties for over 100 years;

Whereas the acquisition of the Philippines in 1898 ushered

in unprecedented American influence in the affairs of the

Asia-Pacific region;
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Whereas, at the onset of the acquisition of the Philippines,

armed conflict occurred between the Americans and the

Filipinos;

Whereas during the course of that conflict, a particularly

noteworthy incident occurred on the island of Samar in

1901;

Whereas that incident involved the ringing of the church bells

of the town of Balangiga on the island of Samar to signal

the outbreak of fighting;

Whereas units of the United States Armed Forces confiscated

the bells of Balangiga and brought them to the United

States as war trophies;

Whereas these units were stationed at Fort D.A. Russell in

Cheyenne, Wyoming, which subsequently became the current F.E. Warren Air Force Base, where the bells of

Balangiga have since remained;

Whereas the acts of conflict and cruelty that surrounded the

bells of Balangiga are not consistent with the friendship

and cooperation that have been an integral part of the

relationship between the Republic of the Philippines and

the United States of America;

Whereas Filipino soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder with

American troops on the battlefields of World War II,

Korea, and Vietnam;

Whereas the bells of Balangiga should more properly serve as

a symbol of friendship and cooperation and not of unfortunate misunderstanding and conflict;

Whereas the Republic of the Philippines has repeatedly requested the return of the bells;
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Whereas a recent proposal provides a means for both countries to mutually share in the heritage that the bells of

Balangiga represent, enabling both countries to retain an

original and a duplicate bell;

Whereas 1998 is the centennial celebration of Philippine

independence; and

Whereas the United States holds supportable legal title to the

bells recognizable under international law and the United

States Government has final disposition over the bells of

Balangiga: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges

2 the President to authorize the transfer of ownership of one

3 of the bells taken from the town of Balangiga on the island

4 of Samar, Philippines, which are currently displayed at

5 F.E. Warren Air Force Base, to the people of the Phil6 ippines as a measure of friendship, good will, and coopera7 tion.

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