Evening star., 1936-04-24
Interior Official Reveals
Administration Aid for
Measure.
MARYLANDER PROPOSES
VOTE ON INDEPENDENCE
"Ingratitude" of Islanders for
U. S. Money Is Cited-Four.
Year Commonwealth Urged.
BACKGROUND

ana the Untted states at conclusion
OF their brief Udr, the American
Government took oUer domination
OF Philippines, Cuba and Puerto
Rico. Within the past tew years
the first t,Uo hare mored to point
OF Uirtudl independence ulile agi-
tGtion has arisen in Puerto Rico for
similar treatment of that territory.
In each case, issue has become one
OF economics Us. politics and long,
term results in former field wiu be
true test OF ddusability OF inde-
pendence movements.
BY the Associated Press.
Passage of the Tydings bill to ex-
tend an opportunity for independence
to Puerto Rico was advocated today
by DR.. Ernest Gruening, head Of the
Interior Departments Bureau of Ter
ritorial Affairs.
He joined Chairman Tydings Of the
Senate Territories Committee in say
ing the measure had administration
support.
Coincidentally. however. Gruening
said the administration did not in
tend to offer other outlying possessions
the option of independence
The situation with the Others" he
said, sis entirely different. There has
never been the slightest suggestion
from any one of any desire to be other
than participants in the benefits con-
ferred by American citizenship"
Island Police Chief Killed.
Concerning Puerto Rico, however,
where Col. Francis Riggs. chief of the
island police. recently was killed by
two members of the Nationalist party,
Gruening said:
Nothing could be further from the
spirit and purpose of this administra-
tion than to keep a people, not con-
suited originally about its annexation,
under our flag if they do not desire to
be there.
American citizenship is, In my
Judgment, great privilege and O
great opportunity, but certainly should
not be forced on any one who may not
desire it."
The purpose of the measure" "
Gruening added, is admirable 1t is
consistent with the enlightened poll
cies of this administration in relation
to its neighbors. 1t gives the people
of Puerto Rico themselves the oppor-
tunity to determine what their politi-
cal destiny is to be.
Year and Half ample Time"
"The bill provides that if they vote
for independence at referendum to
be held a year hence. they shall
have it.
"A year and half is ample op-
portunity to study and discuss the
question fully and to weigh we'll the
consequences of independence should
they elect it.
If, on the other hard, they decide
to remain American citizens under the
American flag it will settle the question
which has somewhat agitated the
island during recent years"
Tydings, in pushing his plan for
independence of the islands, accused
Puerto Ricans of being ungrateful to
the Urited States.
Introducing a bill for referendum
in which the island people would de-
termine their future status, Tydings
referred yesterday to recent disturb
ances, in which Puerto Ricans seeking
independence we're said to have taken
part.
These troubles we're followed by the
assassination of Col. Riggs.
Denounces 'Ingratitude."
Senator Tydings' bill bears certain
resemblances to the Philippines inde-
pendence act. He scored what he
termed "ingratitude" of Puerto Ricans
for the many millions" in Federal
money poured into the islands.
The attitude of Puerto Ricans, he
asserted in the Senate, makes us
question the worth of American insti-
tutions as being fitting for the people
to live under in Puerto Rico"
Under the Tydings bill. a plebi-
scite would be held in November, 1887.
If the Puerto Ricans voted for inde-
pendence, a commonwealth govern
ment, which still would retain links
with the United States, would be set
up for four years. After that, the
islanders would be granted complete
freedom.
A commonwealth government re-
Gently was establish in the Philippines,
and is to be followed by an independ-
ent regime in 10 years.
The Tydings measure provides that
when the Puerto Rican common
wealth is created, spending of United
(See PUERTO RICO, Page g.