New-York tribune., 1919-07-21
Not Stable" but Backsliding

ate Philippines Committee and the House
Committee on Insular Affairs members
of the Filipino Mission laid great stress
on the contention that a. "stable govern
= ment,7 administered by representatives
of the Filipino people, had been estab-
ished in the archipelago. Mr.. Maxlmo
NJ. Kalaw, the secretary of the mission,
quoted on the witness stand the condl-
tions of a recognition of the lndepen-
dence of a new state laid down by the
- Grant Administration with reference to
Cuba. President Grant prescribed, among
other things, that a state, to be recog-
n;zed must be one "in which the func-
tions Of government are administered by
usual methods, competent to mete OUT
Justice to citizens and strangers, to at
ford remedies for public and private
wrongs. and able to assume the correla-
t;ye international obligations and cap
able of performing the corresponding
international duties resulting from its
ACQUISITION Of the rights OF sovereignty
Mr.. Kalaw insisted that the people of
the islands could meet these tests. When
ne was asked how the Filipino people and
the mission regarded the alternative OF
protection and a right Of intervention on
the part of the United States, such as
exist to-day in the case of Cuba, the fol-
lowing coloquy occurred:
"Mr. Hulings-Eow would they regard
il? How would the Philippine people
gard it?
"Mr. Kalaw-Regard it?
"Mr. Hulings-How would they regard
the right of intervention or protectorate?
"Mr. Kalaw-The official resolutions Of
the representatives of the people state that
gratitude toward America will be the
s--~ fundamental factor in their future rea
tions with the United States I believe
that anything that is compatible with their
rights Of sovereignty and their welfare
would be acceptable to them.
"Nr Huiings-How would the commits
sion regard it? Has it been publicly dis
cussed?
"Mr. Kalaw--No that has not been pub
licly discussed, and think the reason is
perfectly plain. We come here to ask for
independence, and If we put any string
70 it we would not be working for indie
pendence.
Mr.. Hulings (iuterposlng) g)-You want
independence without any strings 20 it?
"Mr. Kalav-With or without"
Later in the hearings Governor Gen
cral Harrison, who Is known to be in
close sympathy with the work Of the
mission, made this much more sweeping
admission:
Il should like to recommend for the con-
sideration OF the committee if the Con-
gress desires to grant independence in the
immediate future-and hope they will
that some provision be inserted similar to
what is known as the Platt amendment in
the treaty with. Cuba, which restricts the
ability OF the republic in borrowing
Of foreign governments ard also permits
the United States 70 interfere with the
affairs of the new republic in case condi-
tons of disorder should be found to pre-
vail. Such recommendation does not come
expression Of the views OF the Fill
pinos; il is my own view o. what would be
desirable to secure feeling Of confidence
and satisfaction the part Of all persons
who have already invested money in the
Philippines who contemplate doing so
IN the near future
Mr.. Harrison evidently is not satisfied
that native, independent government
could be trusted to fulfil its inter
national obligations. 1t would need the
backing of the United States, and. for its
own safety, would be compelled to admit
the right of American supervision and
Intervention. Yet If this is true. what
profit would there be, either to the Fill
pino people or to the United States. in
exchanging the present satisfactory re-
'ation for one Of nominal independence
involving possibilities Of external comp]j
cations and internal decadcncc, and dis
order?
Under the Harrison regime, whose
guiding principle has been to give tn,
~filipnos the sort Of governmcn. the,
want, the earlier standards Of admins
tration have been noticcably relaxed
Take the question Of public health. Ir
1913 there we're 700 deaths from small
pox IN Manila. In the five years preced
ing there had not been single dcatf
from that cause. In the first two month.
OF 1919 there were $4,000 cases Of small
pox In the islands. The Philippine Med
zeal School, at Manila, maintained by tho
'nsular government, is dropping back ir
ITS standing. In 1914 it was up to III.
johns Hopkins rating. Now it has gon.
back To Class {.
Health regulations are laxly enforced
SO are building regulations. The ,ncri
system in appointments is being Cup
planted by political favoritism. Th.