Evening star., 1934-03-02
Freedom Measure Reintro-
duced at Suggestion
of President.
SETTLEMENT OF NAVAL
BASES LATER SUGGESTED
Land Forces Would Be Removed
simultaneously With Independ-
ence Within IA Years.
BY the Associated Press.

President Roosevelt today asked
Congress to revive the Hawes- Scouting
Philippine independence law with an
amendment for REIMBURSEMENT of the
military base when the islands be-
come independent and provisions for
ultimate settlement" of or the dispo-
sition of the naval bases.
The Hawes-Cutting legislation,
passed a year ago by Congress, auto
matically lapsed early this year by
failure Of the Philippine government
to accept it.
It provides for independence within
u or IA years.
1t provided that the United States
would retain the option of keeping
certain military and naval bases In
the islands after independence.
Mr.. Roosevelt proposed that the
military bases be relinquished stimuli
taneous with independence.
Confident Of Fairness.
IT do not believe" he said, "that
other provisions Of the original law
need be changed at this time. Where
imperfections or Inequalities exist. /
am confident that they can be cor
rected after proper hearing and in
fairness to both peoples.
May I emphasize that while we
desire to grant complete independence
at the earliest proper moment. to
effect this result without allowing suf-
ficient time for necessary political and
economic adjustments would be a
definite injustice to the people Of the
Philippine Islands themselves little
short Of a denial Of independence it
self.
ITO change, at this time, the eco
nomic provisions OF the previous law
would reflect discredit on ourselves" J"
Chairman McDuffie Of the House
Insular Committee Immediately intro
duced the Philippine bill, and said
the committee would start hearings
Monday.
Our hope is" he told newspaper
-of the nIAids. 4
The measure also allows the Phil
ippines until October of this year to
hold their constitutional convention,
McDuff1e added.
Text Of Message.
The text Of the Presidents mes
sage follows:
ITO the Congress:
lover a third Of century ago the
United States as a result of a war
which had its origin in the Caribbean
Sea acquired sovereignty over the
Philippine Islands, which lie many
thousands of miles from our shores
across the widest of oceans. Our
Nation covets no territory; 1t desires
to hold no people over whom it has
gained sovereignty through war
against their will.
I'm keeping with the principles of
justice and in keeping with our tradi-
tionS and aims our Government for
many years has been committed by
law to ultimate independence for the
people of the Philippine Islands when
ever they should establish a suitable
government capable of maintaining
that independence among the nations
Of the world. We have believed that
the time for such independence is
at hand.
"A law passed by the Seventy
second Congress over year ago was
the initial step, providing the meth
DDS, conditions and circumstances
under which our promise was to be
fulfilled. That act provided that the
United States would retain the op-
ton Of keeping certain military and
naval bases in the islands after actual
independence had been accomplished.
Would Relinquish Bases.
las to the military bases, recon-
mend that this provision be elimi-
mated from the law and that these
bases be relinquished simultaneously
with the accomplishment of final
Philippine independence.
LAS to the naval bases, I recon-
mend that the law be so amended
as to provide for the ultimate settle
ment of this matter on terms salts
factory to our own Government and
that Of the Philippine Islands.
II do not believe that other pro-
visions of the original law need be
changed at this time. Where imper-
fections or inequalities exist. I am
confident that they can be corrected
after proper hearing and in fairness
to both peoples.
May emphasize that while we
desire to grant complete independence
at the earliest proper moment, to
effect this result without allowing
sufficient time for necessary political
and economic adjustments would be .