Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-22
DELAYING FILIPINO
FREEDOM URGED IN
THOMPSON REPORT
Further Autonomy in Internal
Affairs Recommended to
President, However.
DEPARTMENT TO GOVERN
ISLANDS is FAVORED
Coolidge Praises Investigation in
Message Transmitting Find
ings to Congress.

ence for the Philippines, but the grant
of further autonomy in internal af
fairs as the situation may warrant
was recommended to President Cool
idge in the report of Carmi Thomp
son, made public today.
Establishment of an independent
government department to administer
the islands and other overseas terri
tory was urged in the report, which
said also that Mindanao and Sulu
should not be separated from the re-
mainder of the islands, as has been
suggested in Congress. Strengthen,
ing of American control in the Moro
country was recommended.
In transmitting the report to Con
gress today the President comment
ed upon the candid and intimate man
ner in which Col. Thompson has re
ported his findings, and compliment
ed the latter upon the fearless eX
preston he gave his views on the
Philippine situation.
President Gives Praise.
The President said,in the brief mes
sage accompanying his report: while
do not agree entirely with all his
views and recommendations, 1 believe
that the report is an excellent one
and merits your careful consfdera
ton. He went to the Philippine
Islands as a volunteer. He gave his
time. He paid large sum for his
expenses. For all this he is entitled
to sincere thanks"
The President said also that the
general line Of Col. Thompson's con
clusions is in close agreement with
what the administration already has
recommended.
Col. Thompson's report also recon-
mends:
cooperation between the legislative
and executive branches OF the Philip
pine government.
That American control be strength
ened in the Moro country;
That the Federal Reserve SYSTEM
should be extended to the Philippine
Islands;
That one or more Federal land
banks should be established in the
Philippines to provide loans at reti-
sonable interest rates for the farmers.
who now pay from IL to 80 per cent
interest;
Experiment Stations Urged.
That the United States Department
Of Agriculture establish sufficient
number of experiment stations in the
Philippines properly to develop the
agriculture resources Of the islands;
That the fundamental law govern,
ing the Philippines, known as the
Jones act, be not amended or changed
at this time;
That the Philippine Legislature
should amend the Philippine land
laws, with proper safeguards, so as
to bring about such conditions as
win attract capital and business ex.
pertence for the development of rub
ber. coffee and other tropical products,
some of which now are controlled by
monopolies:
That no amendments be made at
this time to the Philippine land laws
by the American Congress-;
That the Philippine government
withdraw from private business at the
earliest possible date.
Would Delay Freedom.
In advising against granting indie.
pendence to the islands for any time
in the near future Col Thompson re.
ported that this matter be consid.
cred at a future date when the islands
are developed to maintain an indie
pendent government, and that in the
meantime there be granted such
further autonomy in the management
of internal affairs as conditions from
time to time may warrant. He said
that the Philippines lacked the f1nan.
cial resources to maintain an inde-
pendent government, that they lack
a common language and that there
exists bitter religious and other diff.
ferences between the natives.
Abandonment OF the Philippines al
tional relations in the Orient" Col
Thompson reported. THE granting
of complete and immediate independ
ence would end the free trade with
the United States. This and other re-
Sulting conditions would bring about
economic disaster for the islands The
independence propaganda might give
one unfamiliar with political methods
the idea that the Filipinos would not
be satisfied with anything less than
complete independence, which would
mean an entirely independent nation
believe that no leader either in pol.
itics or business, expects independence
Tor long time to come. l learned
that all Filipinos, with the exception
or a small radical minority. really
nope for an ultimate settlement OF
their relations with the United States
on basis which would eventually
give them complete autonomy in in
ternal affairs, but with the United
States directing all foreign affairs"
Political Peace Needed.
Col. Thompson looked upon the so
luton of the political problem of the
islands as one of the Fundamental
needs OF this possession. He pointed
out that this political problem has two
principal phases: First. a widespread
and insistent agitation for immediate
absolute and complete independence
second, deadlock between the .yoy
ernor general and the Legislature,
Regarding this breach between tho
governor general and the legislature
Col. Thompson reported that 1t hat
reached the stage where the legisIa
ture has, or claims that it has, los,
faith i'm the executive branch and thu
executive branch appears to have M
confidence in the leaders of the legisla
ture. Consequently, no constructive
legislation is possible, in the opinion
of the investigator.
Col. Thompson stated that this lacI
Of cooperation. which dates back t
1923, has resulted in considerable o.
delay in legislative and executive mat
ters and that apparently the deadlock
will exist as long as present condition.
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