IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 313 
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, Phil-
ippines, which are currently displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, 
to the people of the Philippines. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 13, 2005 
Mr. FILNER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services 
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 po-
litical 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;
•HRES 313 IH 
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 cur-
rent 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 unfor-
tunate misunderstanding and conflict; 
Whereas the Republic of the Philippines has repeatedly re-
quested the return of the bells;
•HRES 313 IH 
Whereas a recent proposal provides a means for both coun-
tries to mutually share in the heritage that the bells of 
Balangiga represent, enabling both countries to retain an 
original and a duplicate bell; 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges 
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 Phil-
ippines as a measure of friendship, good will, and coopera-
tion. 
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