The sun., 1919-04-10
FILIPINOS SEEK new
TRADE CHANCE HERE
independence Commission to
Improve Relations While
Waiting for Congress.
HAVE NO FEAR OF JAPAN
Delegates Visiting New York
Urge Closer Business Deal
ings and More Ships.

The Little Brown Brother is perfe city
happy. but he thsn,rs he has attained his
majority. A commission headed by
Manuel Ia oueson. President Of the
Philippine Senata. arrived at the Hotel
Pennsyivania Yesterday afternoon, in
structed By the Philippine Legislature
to carry Philippines good will and re-
spect TO the Government and people of
the United States and TO insist that the
Philippines can prove that the time now
has arrived for their promised indie
pendence.
I'VE arc not impatient, we do not dis
like the United States--we believe never
has a great nation treated a weak ma
ton so handsomely-but we now have a
stable Government and have fulfilled the
conditions Of independence which you
set for US two years ago" said Senator
Quezon.
Tho stay OF the commission will be A
long one. 1t will wait for the next ses-
sion of Congress, the regular one IL
necessary, and go before the committees
OF both houses to prove the character
and stability OF the Government now ex-
listing. Meanwhile the members OF the
commission will devote themselves to
furthering the financial and commercial
relations between their country and the
United States. 1t is largely for that pur-
pose that they came to New York. They
are being entertained extensively by a
large committee Of import and export
houses and will be dined by the Mer-
chants Association, affording them tho
opportunity to show the advantages Of
Philippine trade to as many persons as
possible.
Unanimous for Independence.
The commission Is composed of men
representing almost every phase Of
philippine thought and activity. for they
Gay that the Filipinos are unanimous
for independence. IN addition to Sena-
tor Queson, the vice-president of the
commission 10 Raphael Palma, Secretary
Of the Interior and Senator from the
Manila district, and among its members
are Dionisio Jakosalem, Secretary OF
Commerce and Communications Rafael
Altman and Emilliano Tria Tirona. re-
epectively. majority and minority floor
leaders in the Legislature. two other
Senators and four other representatives
leading agriculturists, industrialists and
merchants. and a large star Of legal
economic, technical and political advisers
from the universities
ONO Oh INC urSL questions
asked Senator Queson after his unquali-
fed assertion in favor of indeuendence
was the relation OF the Philippines to
Japan and the prospect OF interference
from Japan.
We do not fear Interference from
Japan" said Senator Quezon. I'VE have
few Japanese in the islands, though they
are free to come there IL they want to-
Here We believe that they have no de-
slres in our direction. As a matter Of
fact the Japanese, do not do well in tropic
countries.
"Furthermore there is no more danger
from japan II we we're Independent than
now In the first place, We expect to
have a League of Nations TO protect
us. and IL that fails we don't think
japan wants the Philippines at all.
Stable Government Established.
There are two reasons for our in
dependence. First. the independence of
the Philippines has been in the organic
law of the islands since 1915. promised
as soon as we established a stable Gov
eminent We now have a stable Gov
eminent maintained by the people. and
q will continue stable Government
IN our favor in that respect we have
the testimony of your own Governor
General Harrison and of the acting
Goyernor-General now in Manila
I'm the second place, we believe that
4 would be syeat object lesson to
the world II the United States were at
this juncture to grant the Philippines
<helr independence. It would be the
best proof of the good faith OF the
United States in the declared objects
NJ the war and OF the negotiations al
Paris. After all. why should the
United States recognize the independence
of Jugo-Slavla and Czecho-Slovakia and
refuse to recognize the independence Of
the Philippines"
1t is the intention of the commission
10 keep the question of Philippine indie
pendence a non-partisan one. Senator
Cuezon says the mission win try TO IN
duce both parties to favor Il. He sayi
the mission was greatly encouraged by
their interview with Secretary Baker IL
Washington on Thursday. and by tn
letter of President Wilson which th'
Secretary OF War then read.
Trade Extension Sought.
THE eecond object OF our mission.
ne continued. is the promotion of com
Il Is Is our biggest customer and on
biggest seller. But we believe we cal
show you where we can buy more from
YOU and where there are many thing
that you can buy from us. The atti
tude OF the Philippine people never wa
more friendly 10 tho United States thai
It Is to-day. That is proved by tn
contributions of men and money whicl
the Philippines gave to the war. AM
they were ready TO give just as mucl
more as might have been needed.
I'VE are here TO invite American cap
ital, and We can assure capital that 4
will be Just as safe under an indepen
dent sovereignty in the Philippines as /
is now. Our plans call for adequat'
military and naval measures of de
fence. and 1t Is our hope that even 4
Independent the United States will still
maintain it's naval bases on the islands
We already have an admirable constabu
larry and a fine National Guard. Gu
naval plans would of course not be 81
elaborate. probably relying for the mos
part on the submarine and the airplan
for defence.
1.-THE most important need OF the MO
ment TO further the commercial rela ton
between the United States and thu
Philippines is an increase of American
shipping on the Pacific. The trade wa
Just coming into full bloom when th'
la Toilette seamen's bill was passed anC
the Pacific Mail sold its ships to tn
Japanese. There are very few American
flags flying on the Pacific these days, and
Il should be quite otherwise. There IL
no reason why American vessels canno
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