Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-03-05
Declares Islands Not Yet
Ready for Autonomy Which,
if Granted, Might Easily
Become Disaster.
ASSURES INDEPENDENCE
WILL FOLLOW PROGRESS
Letter to Roxas Expresses Candid
Opinion That People Have Not
Attained Capacity for Self-Rule
Despite Cultural Growth of Last
Few Years.

xCW xCAIS.
President Coolidge informed the
Philippine independence mission to-
day the time has not arrived when
the United States government
should grant national independence
to the Philippine Islands.
The President made this view
known in a letter to Manuel Roxas,
who is in Washington as the head
of the Philippine mission, and in ex-
pressing his adverse opinion regard
ing independence President Cool
idge declared that the government
of the United States would not feel
that it had performed its full duty
by the Filipino people. or discharged
all of its obligations to civilization
if it should yield at this time to
your aspiration for national indie
pendence."
Several days ago the House in
sular affairs committee, by avote OF
seven to FIVE, voted to report to the
House resolution that would grant
independence. The letter of the
President today, however, is taken
to serve notice that the administra-
ton will not approve the enactment
of such legislation.
Confidence In Wood.
The President In his letter express
ed full confidence in the ability. good
Intentions and sincerity of the present
governor general of the islands, and
said further that the President has
been unable to find evidence that Gen.
Wood as governor general had ex-
ceeded his proper authority.
In attempting to make clear the
relationship between the United
States and the Filipino people and to
remove rem any doubts as to his reasons
this time the President said, in my
judgment the strongest argument
that has been used in the United
States to support immediate indie
pendence of the Philippines Is not the
argument that 1t would benefit the
Filipinos, but would be Of advantage
to the United States.
Text of Letter.
The Presidents letter In full fol-
lows:
February 81, 1924.
My dear Mr.. Roxas:
The resolutions adopted by the
senate and house of representative
Of the Philippines, touching upon the
relations between the Filipino peo-
pie and the government of the Unit
ed States, have been received. / have
noted carefully all that you have
said regarding the history of these
relations. have sought to inform
myself so thoroughly as might be as
to the occasions of current irritation
between the legislature Of the Philip
pines and the executive authority OF
the islands.
I'm your presentment you have set
forth more or less definitely series
Of grievances, the gravamen or Which
is that the present executive author
ity Of the islands, designated by the
United States government, Is In your
opinion out Of sympathy with the
reasonable national aspirations of the
Filipino people. If I do not misin-
terpret your protest, you are disposeo
to doubt whether your people may
ecutive policy shall continue, that
the government of the United States
will in reasonable time justify the
hopes which your people entertain
of ultimate independence.
Reviews Charges.
1.-THE declaration Of the commission
of independence charges the govern
or general with Illegal. arbitrary and
undemocratic policies, In consequence
of which the leaders of Filipino par
ticipatton in the government have re-
signed and their designations have
been accepted by the governor gen
eral. ,.
'"The commission of independence
declares that 1t Is necessary to take
all needful steps and to make use OF
all lawful means within our power
Of the liberties of the country now
Violated and invaded 1t proceeds:
And we declare. finally, that this
event, grave and serious as 1t Is,
once more demonstratess , rnas nne
Of the Philippines. which the whole
country demands, is the only COM
pIete and satisfactory settlement Oh
the Philippine problem
"It Is occasion for satisfaction to
all concerned that this declaration is
couched in terms of moderation, and
that 1t goes no farther than to evoke
'all lawful means within our power.
So long as such discussions as this
shall De COUHucu w tnS SohoioCi otiSh
~ lawful means there will be no
reason to anticipate mutually benefi-
cent conclusions. It Is therefore
a matter of congratulatton. which j
herewith extend, that you have
chosen to carry on this discussion
within the bounds of lawful claims
and means. That you have thus de-
clared the purpose to resist your
modes Of appeal and methods OF en-
forcing 1t Is gratifying evidence OF
the progress which the Filipino peo-
pie under American auspices nave
made iowa I'd a demonstrated capacity
for self-government.
Grievances Not General.
1.-THE extent to which the griev--
ancos which you suggest are shared
by the Filipino people has been a
subject of some disagreement. The
American government has informa-
ton which justifies 1t in the con-
fidence that a very large proportion
at any rate, and possibly majority
Of the substantial citizenry Of the
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