The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-04-04
Forty Prominent Filipino..

The mission. including forty prom1
inent Filipinos and headed by Man
uel Quezon, president Of the senate.
upon being received in Secretary
Bakers office today. presented 4 for
NAL memorial asking Independence
and pointing particularly to thu
record of the Philippines in the great
war.
Text Of Wilson's Letter.
In replying, the secretary read
President Wilson's letter, addressed
to him under date OF March 8. II
was as follows:
VIII you please express to the
gentlemen Of the commission rep
resenting the Philippine Legislatures
my regret that shall be unable to
see them personally on their arrival
in Washington. as well as my hope
that their mission will be source
Of satisfaction to them, and that it
viii result in bringing about the de-
sirable ends set forth in the Joint
resolution of the Legislature approx
to the United States.
"a have been deeply gratified with
the constant support and encourages
mont lreceived from the Filipino pe0-
pie Ind from the Philippine iegis-
laturP in the trying period through
WHICH we are passing. The people
of tEUnited States have, with rea-
SOM taken the deepest pride in the
loyalty and support of the Philippine
peoples.
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.
.''I am sorry that cannot look into
the faces of the gentlemen of this
mission of the philippine Islands and
tell them all that have in mind and
heart as think of the patient labor.
with the end almost in sight, under
taken by the American and Filipino
people for their permanent benefit
1 know, however, that your senti
ments are mine, in this regard, and
that you will translate truly to them
my own feeling"
Urge Independence Now.
Washington, April 4.-Declaring
there now is a stable government IN
the Philippines, managed and sup
ported by the people themselves. and
that it can, and will, be maintained
if independence is granted the is
lands, and urging that now is the
time for presenting the
claims because of the principles for
which the United States entered the
world WARRIOR the liberty, the self
government and the indicated de-
velopment of all peoples"-Manuel l..
Quezon, chairman of the Philippine
today presented to SECRETARY
Baker the question of Independence
for the Filipino people. Mr.. Baker.
who is in charge of Philippine af-
airs. this morning formally received
the entire mission, numbering about
forty members. representing all ele-
nents Of Philippine life. Chairman
Quezon, president of the Philippine
senate and former resident commits
sioner of the islands in Washington.
acted as spokesman.
After announcing that the mission
brought to the United States a mes
sage Of good will, gratitude and re-
spect from all the inhabitants Of the
Stands, Mr.. Quezon stated he had
)een sent by his people formally to
submit to this government the urgent
question of their independence 'in
he confident hope that il shall merit
| just, righteous and final settle
nent."
Ideal of Filipinos. M
Independence is the great nationals
deal of the Filipino people" Mr-f
Quezon asserted, and we believe this
$ the proper time to present thes
question, looking to favorable and
decisive action, because of the de-
,lared and uniform policy of America.
o withdraw her sovereignty over the,
and to recognize our in
dependence as soon as a stable gov
rnment and the fulfillment of thisi
olemn promise you owe yourselves,s
o us and to humanity at large"
The speaker paid a tribute to thet
-nited States for the manner int
which the affairs of the islands had
'een administered during the periodt
f American occupation. which,
through the cooperation OF Ameri-,
ans and Pilipinos. ne said. had
brought prosperity and progress tn-
recedented."
you have truly treated us as nos
alton ever before has treated an
ther under its sway" he declared.
and yet you-and none better than
ouLwill understand why. even m
er such conditions. our people stihi
rave independence that they. too
lay be sovereign masters OF their.
wn destinies."
Mr.. Baker was given a documentt
ent by the Philippine legislature I'M
-hich was set forth the facts on
-hich the Filipinos based their ap-
cal for Independent national ex-
,tence.