Evening star., 1926-04-07
THOMPSON TAKES
UP ISLAND STUDY
Talks With President on
Plans for Philippine Trip,
Which viii Start in June.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.

1t has been decided that Col.
| Carmi A. Thompson Of Ohio, who was
recently named by President Coolidge
| to make a. survey Of the economic and
all other internal conditions in the
Philippine Islands. will start on this
| mission early in June and viii return
| to Washington some time next NO
| vember.
The President has made it clear to
Col. Thompson that he is anxious TO
have the latter's report Of his findings
| in ample time for him to, study before
preparing his next annual message. to
Congress.
This was made known at the White
| House today following visit MADE
| by Col. Thompson, who called TO con
| fer regarding details intimate 10 the
work the President has turned over
| to him. The White House Is now pre-
pairing for Col Thompson what he
described as his assignment. Assist
ants to the President are mapping out
the nature and the scope of the inyes-
tigation the President expects Col.
| Thompson to make, as well as otner
details incident to this.
Experts to Make Trip.
Col. Thompson win be accompanied
| by dozen or more Government ex.
-.
personnel. These experts will be Sc
lected from the Government depart
| ments. 1t is the intention OF the
| White House to have their expenses
paid out of appropriations OF their
/ respective departments, inasmuch as
! the President has no special appro'
| priation for this purpose.
| Col. Thompson, while discussing his
mission at the White House today,
! Cav hA
| in a very general way just what his
work will be. He realizes that the
scope Of his activities will be large
| and that a variety Of subjects and
| activities will be covered. In his
| opinion. the survey is primarily for
| the purpose of determining the eco
| nomic and Industrial situation In the
| islands and to report on these, as well
as to make report regarding the pos
sibilities for future development in
| the Philippines. Although his mis-
| sion is not intended to have any po-
| litical significance or ramifcations.
| Col. Thompson is of the opinion that
| il would be very natural for him TO
| make a report to the President re-
| garding the island policies. He ex-
poets also to touch upon the question
of self government for the Filipinos.
Holds Motive Impersonal.
/ 1t was made very clear by Col.
] Thompson that this survey was pro-
posed by the President from purely
| impersonal motive, for the purpose Of
obtaining enlightenment for himself
and Congress with a view to assist
| ing in the promotion and development
of the Philippines in the future. Col.
Thompson said that his mission has
| no connection with the administration
| Of Gov. Gen. Wood In the Philippines.
and that the fact that he Is being
sent to make this survey should not
be interpreted as a reflection upon
Gen. Wood.
| In working out the details for Col.
Thompson's survey the White House
thus far has specified that 1t wants
investigated the following: Education,
health and sanitation; the housing sit
uation, agricultural and industrial de-
velopment, the possibility Of promot.
| ing the growing of rubber trees, the
coffee and sugar industries. and ship
| ping.
| The President has told Col. Thomp-
| son that he wants him to include
| visits to other possessions in the Pa.