The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-09
FILIPINOS START
DRIVE TO OBTAIN
FULL AUTONOMY
Conditions Changed by 4.
Power Pacific Agree
ment, Is Plea.

A new drive to obtain liberation
OF the Philippines was inaugursted
yesterday by the Filipino leaders
here on the basis of changed condi-
tions wrought by the four-power
Pacific treaty and other achieve
ments of the conference on the
limitation of armaments.
The aim OF the independence sd-
vocates now is to obtain not only
an act of Congress setting the Phil
ippipes free but a reservation TO
the four-power treaty declaring the
intention OF the United States to
withdraw from the islands within a
fixed period.
James c. De veyra and Isaura
Gabsldon, the resident Philippine
commissioners, assert that the
four-power treaty removes "any
real cause OF fear for the safety OF
a Philippine republic" and that II
any such apprehension persists the
United States easily could induce
Great Britain. France and Japan 70
sign a special agreement neutraliz-
ing the Philippines.
Independence Seen Nearer.
How the four-power treaty will
hasten" Philippine independence is
thus set forth by the Filipino
leaders:
The japanese bugaboo as an i'm
portant factor in the Philippine in
dependent question Is dead. II died
with the birth OF the four-power
treaty having for it's object the
keeping OF the peace in the Pacific.
with a single stroke the ad-
ministration has killed what UP to
this time has been a powerful fac
tor. IL not the most powerful factor
in public opinion in the United
States, against Philippine indepen-
dence. We would really like TO
see you. Filipinos obtain your in
dependence has been the assur-
ance of many sincere and admiring
friends Of the Filipino people. but
we are afraid Japan would gobble
you up
Even the wood-Forbes anti
independence report took cogniz-
ance Of this bugaboo. The report.
recently made public. declared the
United States would not be justi-
Ned in leaving the islands a prey
to any powerful nation coveting
their, rich soil and potential COM
mercial advantages
Conditions Now Changed.
But now all is changed. For
the United States now TO take this
attitude would be to belIttle the
efficiency of its own handiwork.
the new treaty, and to show lack
of confidence in Its new allies.
There is not the slightest rea-
son to doubt but that the four
power treaty is in good faith. and
IL 1t Is, Philippine republic. the
first Christian democracy of the Far
East. will be perfectly safe. II
the United States set it up as a
daughter republic, the four great
est nations on earth will be behind
it,
But, should there be the least
apprehension on this score, 1t will
now be a comparatively easy and
simple matter for the United States
to induce its allies, Japan, Great
Britain and France. to sign a spe-
cial Philippine republic neutrality
agreement.
the three allies would sign such an
agreement IL asked to do So by the
United States. No nation could af-
ford to refuse to sign and thus so
early Srisk the worlds unfavorable
conclusions as to its good faith re-
spectins the new treaty. as well as
its honorable intentions toward
the Philippines.
japanese Bugaboo Finished.
But the really important devel-
opment is that the japanese buga-
boo has received its death blow.
The propitious opportunity has ar
rived for the United States to keep
its oft-repeated pledge to the peo-
pie of the Philippine Islands"
The important consideration TO
the advocates of Philippine inde-
pendence Is that the four-power
treaty paves the way to a neutral
ization agreement. The four-power
pact itself protects the Philip
pines only so long as they remain
American territory. II they should
become independent the Pacific
treaty no longer would apply to
them. and Japan would be absolved
from obligation to respect their
territorial integrity. The protec-
ton could then be extended to the
Philippines only by making them
party to the treaty or by executing
special naturalization agreement
In answering the Wood Forbes
report showing that a stable gov
ernment warranting independence
has not been established in
the Philippines. Commissioners De
Veyra and Gabaldon aimed a feS
shots at conditions in the Unit I'd
States.
Criticism Of Courts.
Criticism Is heaped on inferior
courts and an unstable government
inferred. in the report. because in
hundreds Of different courts of the
islands. including the supreme
municipal and justice, the report al
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