Evening star., 1933-01-14
A Sound Veto.

Philippines independence bill. And
wisely e2d rghtfully &C, His veto mes
SAGE. in clcar. forceful and convincing
words. sets forth the weaknesses OF the
measure and the evils and dangers
threatened BY it.
No one can read this message
thr-Ugh. whether American or Filipino,
without at least realizing the confusion
and the dangerous seriousness of the sit
us.ion into which both peoples would
b, THROWN by its enactment into Law.
l. can satisfy neither American ncr
Fi,ipno public opinion. 1t safeguards
the interests neither OF Filipnos nor OF
Americans. Apparently it does not de-
serve the approval of anybody except
az the less Of two evils, on the assump-
ticn that its rejection as compromise
measure will result in the enactment OF
even more hurtful legislation on the
subjoct by the next Congress.
Let us consider a few of the faults OF
tic vetoed bill as indicated by the Pres
idcnt.
It does not define clearly what the
relations of the United States and the
Philippines will be after the establish
ment of independence Will reten-
ton by the United States of military
and naval stations in the Islands and
promise of endeavor to secure interna-
tiocc2 naturalization of the new ma
Sion" imply the responsibility of the
United States to protect Philippine neu-
trality in case international neutraliza-
ticn is refused by any great power, or,
being promised, the promise Of neu-
tralization is brazenly broken? OF what
value today in Asia is even solemn
treaty, guaranteeing not merely neu-
trality, but the territorial integrity OF
a neighbor nation? If this responsibility
may by any course of events be imposed
upon the United States, the vetoed
measure deprives America OF the power
and authority of control which should
accompany this responsibility. For
everybody must agree with the Forbes
Wood report when it says: We res
oninend that under no circumstances
should the American Government per-
nit to be established in the Philippine
Islands a situation which would leave
the United States in position OF re-
sronsibiIity without authority"
But without this continuing protec-
terate of the United States, the new
independent nation" without army,
navy or militia, and without natlehat
sentiment binding together Tagslogs
and Vizayans of the Northern Philip
pines, and the bitterly hostile Mahometan
Moros of the Southern Philippines,
will be thrown defenseleSs into an Orl-
entail family of nations full of jealousies
and hates and land greed and OF i'm
perialstic ambitions and designs TO be
subjected to peaceful inlltration con-
quest by the Chinese or to the Asia
eonouering ambitions Of Japan.
The dangers and injuries Of the eco
nomic warfare to which the new ma
ton" will be exposed when deprived oI
free trade with the United States are
even greater and more certain than the
threatened military and political DAN
gers. The veto message pictures torcioiy
The disasters to result from this eco
nomic warfare.
The visest OF our statesmen have held
that after a necessary period OF pIepa-
ration for government the Flnplnos'
having attained the self-governlng ca
pacity and having studied the adVan-
tepss and disadvantages OF full indie
pendence and complete separation from
the United States, should then decide
thoughtfully whether they wish to cut
loose from the United States or to con-
tiuuc to enjoy the more secure freedom
of membersAip in the American family
as citizens OF appurtenant territory o.
the United states. Under the vetoed
bill the FiIipinoS make this vital oe-
cision incidentally merely by voting for
A proposed form of constitution in ad-
vance Of the ten years Of experimental
tion. In effect the FilipinoS are denieo
the privilege Of making this decision.
Their approval of independence" is as
sumed.
.Ine President in his message touches
roon the strongest consideration OF
sccnonic benefit in this era Of depres-
sio, for a section Of our own people
through Philippine independence when
he saws: "A large part OF the motiva-
tion for the passage OF this bill is pre-
sun,ed relief to certain American agri-
cultural industries from competition by
philippine products. We are trustees
for these people and We must not let
opr selfish interest dominate that trust.
xyou,ever. from an agricultural point
cf view during the first period OF pre-
suuably two years it gives no protec-
t,on Of any kind. During the follow
sap hve years it gives no effective
y,rotectlon In any event the
sugar benefits enure more largely tc
foreign producers than to our owr
farmers. II we are to base ouI
action upon economic consideration
and / 90 not neglect its Importance
xo.n ESQ we should g.ve regard e
AIR farmers. workers and business mef
waose livelihood, particularly upon ths
pacific Coast. Will be largely destroyed
M lack OF positive provisions ier re-
oIorocal trade after independence upol
which they can predicate their future.
1t is we'll known, however, that th'
sageestion of some measure OF relief fol
a group OF our farmers in these trou
e,ous times to be derived from he gran
k philippine independence " NOR