The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-17
FILIPIN0S
MAKE PLEA
TO BE FREE
Mission Tells Harding Sta
BILE Government Is
Established.

Washington, June li.-PreSluent
Harding today received the plea of.
the Philippines parliamentary mis-
sion for a grant of independence TO
the Filipino people and promised a
reply setting forth the view OF the
executive next Thursday.
The president received the %
members of the mission cordially
and listened attentively and inter-
estedly to presentation of the plea
by Manuel l.. Quezon, head OF the
mission and president of the Phil
lppine senate.
Responding briefly to the pre-
sentation, Mr.. Harding said it
would be unfair TO him and unjust
to the Filipino people to make a
reply without carefully consider
ing the plea. Ultimate considera-
ton of the matter of autonomy
rested with congress, he said, add
ing that, however, need not deter
him from outlining the views OF the
executive. This he said, he would
do if the mission would call again
at the White house next Thursday.
Washington, June 17.-(By the
Associated Press. Establishment
by the Filipinos of a stable govern
ment in the Philippines has full
filled the only stipulation laid down
by the United States government
for the granting of independence to
the islands, President harding was
told today in a formal statement
presented by the Philippine parli-
amentary mission of which 2S
members came here today to place
before him the nationalist plea
The statement, read to Mr.. Hard
ing by Manuel l.. Quezon, president
of the Philippine senate, reviewed
the situation of the Fifipinos and
reiterated their aspiration for ma
tional existence. If quoted from
former President Wilson, as call
| ing the attention of 'congres in 1920
! in a message TO establishment of a
successful government in the Phil
! ippine islands. and reminding con-
gress of its obligation to grant in
dependence to the Filipinos.
Cite Wilson Statement.
The recommendation of former
President Wilson, the statement
continued, was made after the gov
ernor general of the Philippines
had officially certified to congress
and the president that a stable gov
arnment had been established in
the islands.
| No American body or official, not
even the Wood-Forbes mission
which was described as "unwar-
rantably severe and critical" in its
report has denied the stability o1
the Filipino government, the mis-
sion declared.
Quoting the Wood-Forbes report
that the Philippines supreme court
has the respect and confidence oi
the Filipino people,, the statement
cited that the courts of the 1lrsi
instances, mostly presided over by
Filipinos ever since the establish
ment of Philippine autonomy have
maintained its standard, which ii
! general compares favorably with
the state courts of the Union"
The present mission, it was
pointed out, represented all the in
= sular political parties and was
sent to Washington by the Phil
ippine legislature to ask for com
pl6lt anu dUSOlul6 independence "
the Philippines.
Not Ingratitude.
This desire is not born of in
gratitude toward the United
States" the statement sets forth
NOR does it show lack of apprCci
alton of the risks and danger of in
ternational life. 1t is the logica
outcome of more than twenty year
of patient labors jointly undertak
en- by the Americans and the Fill
pinos. The Filipino people firnl.
believe that the time has com,
when this question should be set
tied once for all. Further delay il
the fulfillment of Americas pledg
continued in the Jones law vii
only result in injury to the best in
terests of both peoples"
] Any danger of foreign aggres
sion against the Philippines, wkicl
may have been feared, the presi
dent was told, has been eliminate
; through the actions of the Wash