Evening star., 1922-06-17
F|L|P|NOS CARRY
PLEA TO HARDING
Stable Government Fulfill
>.ment of Stipulation for
! Liberty, They Say.


D., stable government has fulfilled the
: only stipulation laid down by the
. United States government for the
granting of independence to the Is-
lands, President Harding was told to-
day in formal statement presented
by the Philippine parliamentary mis-
sion, which came here to place before
him the nationalist plea.
The statement, borne by Manuel l..
QueZon, president of the Philippine
senate. and twenty-seven other mem
bers of the mission. reviewed the sit
uation of the Filipinos. and reiterated
their aspiration for national exist
ence." 1t quoted former President
Wilson as calling the attention or
Congress. In a message in December.
1920, to establishment of a successful
government in the Philippines. and
reminded Congress of the obligation
to grant independence to the Filipinos.
The recommendation of former Pres
ident Wilson. the statement continued,
was made after the Sovernor-generai
OF the Philippines had officially GER
tilted to Congress and the President
e that a stable government had been
established in the islands.
''lt is fact. therefore, the state
ment continued. that Immediately
prior to the coming into power of the
tnt
question was on the eve of solution
Situation Not Altered.
I'VE beg to submit that the fifteen
months that have elapsed since tie
new administration assumed office
have not altered the situation. The
same stable government exists. Con-
trary TO what some may aver. the
phrase a stable government does not
convey a vague and indefinite condi-
tion. 1t has Il specific and well es-
tablished meaning
president Mckinley. in addressing
the Cuban people, defined the stable
. tanning order and observing its inter-
. national obligations. insuring peace
and tranquility and the security OF
It's citizens. as well as our own 1t
must be remembered that the term
stable government in the Jones law
American promises TO the Cuban
people. 1t cannot therefore, but
have the same meaning.
No American body or official. not
even the Wood-Forbes mission. which
was described as "unwarrantably Sc
we're and critical in its report. had
denied the stability of the Filipino
government. the mission declared.
at is admitted by the Wood Forbes
mission that order has been proper
police or constabulary has proved
itself to be dependable and thorough
ly efficient" the statement con-
tinued.
Rest on Peaceful Suffrage.
THE insular. provincial and mu-
nicipal governments of the Philip
pines rest on the free and peaceful
elect members of the insular legis-
lature. provincial governors, MEM
bers of the provincial boards, munic-
ipal presidents and members OF the
municipal councils
The structure and workings of
our government also conform to the
standard defined by Mr.. Root Gn ad-
dressing the Cuban people) in that
II is subject to the limitations and
safeguards which the experience of
a constitutional government has
shown to be necessary to the preser-
vation of individual rights The
Filipino people fought for such con-
stitutional safeguards during the
Spanish regime. Our present con-
stitutional limitations and safeguards
have been in operation since 1900"
Quoting the Wood-Forbes report to
the effect that the Philippine su-
preme court has the respect and con-
fidence of the Filipino people" the
statement cited that the courts of
first instance, mostly presided over
by Filipinos. never since the estab-
lishment of Philippine autonomy
have maintained a standard which.
in general. compares favorably with
the state courts of the Union.
philippine autonomy" it continued.
has also increased the agencies of
social and political progress, such as
schools, roads, public buildings, hos
pitfalls. etc. - The present con-
alleged in the Wood Forbes report.
compares favoraoly with those ex-
listing in many nations whose right
to national sovereignty is not open
to the least question"
No Ingrntitude Meant.
The present mission, it was pointed
out. represented all the insular po-
ington by the Philippine legislature
to ask for complete and absolute in
dependence of the Philippines.
This desire is not born Of ingrati-
tude toward the United States" the
statement set forth. NOR does it
risks and dangers of international
life. 1t is the logical outcome of
moro than twenty years of patient
labors jointly undertaken by the
Americans and the Filipinos. The
Filipino people firmly believe that
the time has come when this ques-
tion should be settled once for all.
Further delay in the fulhllment Of
of Americas pledge contained in the
Jones law will only result in injury
to the best interests Of both peoples"
Amy danger of foreign aggression
against the Philippines. which may
have been feared, the President was
told, has been eliminated through
the actions of the Washington con-
ference.
Surely. after that conference has
been hailed the world over as
solid foundation for International
peace" the statement declared, 1.-The
United States cannot, without show
ing lack of faith in her own work,
now say that she win not grant in
dependence to the Philippines for
fear OF foreign hostile designs"