The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-01-02
Phone-RIley 5551
TUESDAY JAN 2. 1884
WE OWE 1T TO THEM
81 soRIPPs-HoWARp NEwsPAPERl

ME Philippine issue is up again. This
month the Il-advised HAYES Cutting in
dependence law VIII lapse And there is
danger that a bad matter viii be made worse.
The President is busy with domestic affairs.
The American public is intent on troubles
closer home. Congress is impatient It may
be in a mood-since the islands have not ac-
copied independence on the Hawes-Cuttng
terms-to cut the Philippines adrift at once
without any protective period Of preparation
for political and economic freedom.
This would be disastrous for the islands
And it would be very cruel act on the part
Of the United States. Moreover, it would in
ject a new uncertainty and unrest IN the
Pacific at a time when the far east already is
threatened by war
In this emergency a distinguished COM
mittee sponsored by the Foreign Policy Asso-
citation and the World Peace Foundation has
appealed to the President to take the initiative
with Filipino leaders in working out mutual
ly satisfactory solution for presentation to
congress.
The committees suggestion is SO reasonable
1t doubtless will commend itself both to Mr.
Roosevelt and to Mr.. Quezon, who recently ar
rived in Washington as head of Philippine
mission.
The six-point program recommended to
the President by the committee as a basis for
Philippine settlement is much more than
just academic solution. It is a practicable
plan which reconciles many conflicting in
terests. In general it represents the approach
Cf
Philippines who objected with the Filipinos to
the selfish commercial considerations which
were injected into the Hawes-Cutting bill.
Committee program follows:
l. The Philippines at once should be given
system of responsible government. subject
to certain restricted rights of intervention by
an American governor general.
2. While enjoying this status. the islands
should have a right to conclude certain
treaties and to be represented at international
conferences.
3. This period of responsible government
should terminate at the end of ten years. sub
ject to the conclusion of an international neu-
traizaton agreement.
The United States should surrender all
naval bases in the Philippines to take effect
upon naturalization and independence. A
Philippine naturalization agreement should be
negotiated as part of settlement of larger
Pacific issues at the naval conference to be
held in 1885 or later
5 The United States and the Philippines
should conclude a ffteen-year reciprocity
agreement providing for moderate duties and
for quotas on imports from each country into
the other
6. Filipino immigration into the United
States after independence should be placed
under the quota, or regulated by reciprocal
immigration agreement.
Thanks to American beet sugar interests
and Others the Hawes- Cutting law would have
given the Philippines. independence tied to
beggary and international jeopardy Properly,
the islands declined to accept doubtful free
dom on such terms. But this has left the situa-
ton so confused INSCRIPTIONS propagandists
may be able to persuade congress to kick the
islands out from under the American flag
without any protective provisions either for
the islands or the United States.
The President can prevent this. The honor
of the United States, the welfare of the
Philippines and the safety of the Pacific may
be at stake.
The Scripps-Howard newspapers join with
the committee sponsored by the Foreign Policy
Association and the World Peace Foundation
in appealing to the President to take the ini-
tiative for a statesmanlike solution of this
vital problem.