The Washington times., 1924-03-05
COOL |DGE
|. k. GIVEN
WOOD
President Dims FiIipinoS'
Hopes for independence
From U. s.
BY GEORGE E. DURNO,
International News Service.

President Coolidge today an
nounced his confidence in the adj
ministration of Governor General
Leonard Wood IN the Philippine
Islands and declared that the time
had not yet come for the United
States to grant independence to
the Philippine people.
The Presidents attitude on the
Philippine problem was made
known in a long letter to Manuel
Roxas, Speaker Of the House of
Representatives in the Philippine
legislature, and head Of the indie
pendence mission now in this
country.
Squarely Behind Wood.
The determination of the Coolidge
Administration to stand squarely
behind General Wood. despite the
mass of charges which have been
made against him, was clearly in
dictated.
1.-THE Government of the United
States has full confidence in the
ability, good intentions, fairness
and sincerity of the present COVER
nor general" the President said.
1T is convinced that he has in
tended to act, and has acted within
the scope of his proper and consti-
tutional authority. Thus convinced,
it is determined to sustain him."
The President literally took the
Filipino people to task for their
attacks upon General Wood and
their failure to cooperate with his
Administration.
Looking at the whole situation
fairly and impartially," the Presi-
dent declared in his letter, lone
cannot but feel that II the Fill
Pine people cannot cooperate in
the support and encouragement of
as good an administration as has
been afforded under Governor.Gen-
eral Wood, their failure will be
rather a testimony Of unprepared.
ness for the full obligations OF
citizenship, than an evidence OF
patriotic eagernesS to advance
their country.
OcTVOu Illicit INTERESTS
II am convinced that Governor
General Wood has at no time been
other than a Woodworking, pains
taking and conscientious admins
TRAITOR. have found no evidence
that he has exceeded his proper au
thority, or that he has acted with
any other than the purpose Of best
serving the real interests Of the
Filipino people.
THUS believing, I feel that am
serving those same interests by
saying frankly that its not possible
to consider the extension of q
larger measure of autonomy to the
Filipino people until they shall have
demonstrated readiness and ca.
pacity to cooperate wholly and eff.
fectively with the American Gov.
eminent and authorities.
mr.. Coolidge further pointed out
that the Filipino was the real
gamer through the continuance of
an American administration.
In any survey Of the history
Of the islands in the last Quarter
century, think the conclusion in
escapable that the Filipino people
not the people Of the United States
have been the gamers" he said.
1T Is not possible to believe that
the American people would wish
otherwise, to continue their respon.
sibility in regard to the sovereignty
and administration Of the island. 1t
Is not conceivable that they would
desire merely because they pos.
sessed the power, to continue exer.
cising any measure of authority
over people who would better
govern themselves on q basis of
complete independence"
The President took occasion also
to express his satisfaction that the
Philippine 1OdepsnAsQGs inaiQa N