Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-03-05
COOLIDGE DECLARES
FILIPIN0S NOT READY
FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT
CONTINUED from First Page.)

islands, does not support the claim
| that there are grounds for serious
grievance. A considerable section of
the Filipino people is. further. of the
opinion that at this time any change
| which would weaken the tie between
the Filipinos and the American ma
ton would be a misfortune to the
| islands. The world is in a state of
high tension and unsettIement. The
possibility Of either economic or
political disorders, calculated to bring
|! misfortune. If not disaster: to the
! ignored. 1t should not he overlooked
that within the past two years. as a
result of international arrangements
negotiated by the Washington con-
| and problems of the. far east. the
position of the Filipino people has
been greatly improved and assured
! For the stabilfzing advantages which
surance Of peace in the Pacific they
are directly indebted to the initiative
! and efforts of the American govern
! ment. They can i'll afford in a time
| to underrate the value of these con-
tributions to their security.
BY reason Of their assurance
against attack by any power: by rea-
| son also Of that financial and eco
nomtc strength which inevitably &C
, crues to them; by reason OF the ex-
banded and still expanding opportu-
, mites for industrial and economic de-
Velopment; because of all these con-
i siderations. the Filipino people would
the value of their intimate associ-
alton with the American nation.
Although they have made wonderful
advances in the last quarter century.
| equipped, either in wealth or expert
ence, to undertake the heavy burden
which would be imposed upon them
! with political Independence. Their
position in the world is such that
without American protection there
would be the unrestricted temptation
to maintain an extensive and costly
diplomatic service and an ineffective
but costly military and naval serV-
ice. 1t is to be doubted whether
with the utmost exertioD, the most
complete solidarity among themselves.
the most unqualified and devoted
patriotism. it would be possible Tor
the people of the islands to main
tain an Independent place In the
| world for an Indefinite future.
Cites other Conditions.
"In presenting these considerations
! 1t is perhaps worth while to draw
your attention to the conditions IN
! selves by reason of lacking such
! guarantees and assurances as the FIJI
| ipino people enjoy. The burdens OF
armament and of governmental ex-
compelled to bear in these times are
so great that we see everywhere the
evidence of national prosperity and
community progress hindered. II not
/ the world war the Filipino people
| were comparatively uudisturbed in
| their ordinary pursuits. left free to
continue their fine progress. But 1t
h
had been shorn Of the protection af-
forded by the United States. they
could have enjoyed so fortunate an
experience. Much more probably they
great conflict and their independence
and nationality would have become.
| az did those of many other peoples,
pawns in the great world reorganf-
xation. There could be no more I'M
fortunate posture in which to place
have set your feet firmly In the path
of advancement and Improvement.
But you need, above all else. assured
course without Interference from the
outside turmoil within. Working out
the highest destiny of even the most
talented and advanced peoples Is q
"A fair appraisal Of ali these con-
siderations. and of others which sug-
gest themselves without requiring
enumeration, will. l am sure, justify
the frank statement that the gov
eminent of the United States would
not feel that 1t had performed its
full duty by the Filipino people. or
discharged all of It's obligations to
civilization, If 1t should yield at this
time to your aspiration for national
independence. The present relation
and the Filipino people arose out of
strange, an almost unparalleled
turn of international affairs. great
responsibility came unsought to the
American people. 1t was not imposed
upon them because they had yielded
to any designs of imperialism. or of
colonial expansion. The fortunes of
war brought American power to your
islands, playing the part of an unex-
pected and a welcome deliverer. You
may be very sure that the American
people have never entertained pur-
pose of exploiting the Filipino people
or their country. There have. indeed.
been different opinions among our
relationship with the Fflipinos.
There are some among US. as there
are some among your people, who
believe that immediate independence
of the Philippines would be best for
both. 1 should be less than candid
that in my judgment the strongest
argument that has been used in the
United States in support OF immedi-
ate independence of the Philippines
benefit the Filipinos, but that it
would advantage the United States.
Feeling as 1 do, and as 1 am con-
WINGED the great majority OF Ameri-
cans do regarding our obligations to
the Filipino people, l have to say
that / regard such arguments as un-
worthy. The American people will
not evade or repudiate the response
ter. The American government is
convinced that it has the overwhelm-
ing support of the American nation
in its conviction that present inde-
pendence would be misfortune" and
might easily become a disaster to
viction, the policy of this govern
ment Is based.
islands Progress Rapid.
"Thus far 1 have suggested only
some of the reasons related to inter-
national concerns. which seem to me
to urge strongly against independence
for a moment some domestic concerns
Of the Philippine Islands which seem
also to argue against present inde-
pendence. The American government
the Filipino people the opportunities
of the largest practicable participa-
tion in and control of their own ad
mfnistration. 1t has been a matter OF
pride and satisfaction to US, as / am
sure 1t must also have been to your
people, that this attitude has met with
so fine q response. In education. lin
cultural advancement. in political
conceptions and institutional develop
|ment. the Filipino people have demon
strated a capacity which cannot but
justify high hopes for their future. But
1T would be idle and insincere to suE-
gest that they have yet proved their