The Washington herald., 1919-04-05
PHILIPPINES SOON
WILL BE INDEPENDENT,
IS BAKERS ASSERTION
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM FACE ONE.
President as well. He read a lcttcr
from the President to the mission
which expressed pride in the support
the Filipino people have given to
the United States during the war.
The Presidents letter, addressed to
Secretary Baker and read by him to
the mission, said:
"Will YOU please express to the
gentlemen of the commission repre-
sentinE the Filipino Legislature my re-
gret that I shall be unable to see them
personally on their arrival in Wash
ington. as well as my hope that their
mission will be a source of satisfac-
ton to them and that it will result in
bringing about the desirable end set
forth in the joint resolution of the
legislature approving the sending of
the commission to the United States.
L have been deeply Gratifed with
the constant support and encourage
ment received from these Filipino
people and from the Philippine legis
lature in the trying period through
which we are passing. The people of
the United States have, with reason.
taken the deepest pride in the loyalty
and support of the Filipino people
ENJOYS TO Aid Weak Nations.
Though unable to meet the COM
mission, the Filipino people shall not
be absent from my thoughts. Not
the least important labor of the con-
ference which now requires my at
tention is that of making the path
way of the weaker people of the
world less perilous-a labor which
should be. and doubtless is. of deep
and abiding interest to the Filipino
people
Il am sorry that I cannot look
into the faces of the gentlemen of
this mission from the Philippine
Islands and tell them all that l had
in mind and heart as think of the
patient labor with the end almost
in sight, undertaken by the Ameri-
can and Filipino people for their
permanent benefit. 1 know. how
ever. that your sentiments are mine
in this regard and that you will
translate truly to them my own
feelings"
Received ut War Omcc.
The mission of Fflipinos called at
Secretary of War Bakers Office this
morning where they were received by
the Secretary. Chief of STAFF March.
General Frank NJ. Mcintyre who has
been in charge of the Insular Bureau,
and other distinguished army officers
whose past service has brought them
in touch with the Filipino people
Governor General Harrison sat at Ba-
ker's side through the, ceremony.
The Philippine Islands are almost
independent now; your legislature
governs the Islands," Secretary Baker
told the delegation. "The strongest
tie between the Philippine Islands and
the United States at the present time
Is the tie of affection rather than po-
litical. ! know that express the feel
ing of the President. / certainly ex-
press my own feeling-I think I ex-
press the prevailing feeling of the
people in the United States when l
say that We believe the time has sub
stantially come, If not quite come,
when the Filipinos can be allowed to
sever the mere formal political tie re-
naming and become an independent
people.
FavOrs Independence.
'I am myself in favor of Philip
pine independence. trust the day
is very close at hand it can be for
mally accomplished and when it will
no longer be necessary for your chill
dren in your public schools to write
essays and make orations on the as
pirations of your people and when
all the energy of your people can be
devoted to the further development
of the fine civilization which is al
ready inaugurated there.
''I think you will be able to say
that you discovered that Americans
love liberty too dearly to deny it to
anybody; that America is proud of
the Philippine Islands and that her
pride will increase. rather than cease.
when she ceases to be her political
possession and becomes her political
sister in the sisterhood of nations"
Baker expressed the hope that, as
the Philippine mission toured the
United States and as members made
addresses, they would describe to the
American people their desire to be
free. ...
II have no doubt that you will find
a warm response from our people
wherever you may take that picture"