Evening star., 1937-04-04
ASKS PHILIPPINE
FREEDOM AT ONCE
'Treadway Sees Possibility
of Trouble Under Pres
. ent Conditions.
BY JAMES G. WINGO.

BY JAMES G. WINGO.
"Either the Philippines should be
rec or they should not, and If they are
o be free the sooner the better" Rep
Sesentative Allen T. Treadway de-
clared last week.
His remarks were reply to Presi-
dent Manuel Quezon's recent declara-
ton: Either we are to assume the re-
sponsibility or we are not. If we are,
we must be let alone without inter-
ference from the high commissioner,
the Secretary of War, the Secretary Of
State or even the President Of the
United States
Representative Treadway, Republi-
can member of Congress since 1918.
had for many years consistently op-
posed granting of Philippine inde-
pendence. However, ever since his
visit to the Philippines as COM
monwealth Inauguration official guest
in November, 1885, he has favored
prompt termination of United States
occupation of the islands.
Treadway Support.
Representative Treadways reasons
for deviating from the traditional Re-
publican stand against Philippine in
dependence are:
l. The United States has spent al
most one billion dollars for and on
account Of the Philippines since May
!, 1898, not counting the $4,000, 900
which was paid to Spain on their ces-
sion to the United States following the
Spanish-American War.
2. The United States has to all in
tents and purposes turned over to the
Filipinos the right to govern them
selves, but, at the same time, continues
to be responsible for the well-being Of
the islands. This situation involves
military, naval and partial civil con-
troll and the possibility OF interna-
'tional trouble.
J. Since one of the major consid-
erations in granting independence was
the desire Of United States farmers
and workers to be free from competi-
ton with Philippine products and
labor, the preferred treatment OF the
islands in matters of trade should be
terminated promptly.
4. American investments in the
Philippines, totalling $163 100000,
which were made by people familiar
with uncertainty of United States
control Of the islands, are not entitled
TO the dispatch of United States
troops across the Pacific merely for
their protection.
tot
believe the Filipinos are competent to
pass judgment on the momentous
question of independence, with all its
responsibilities and burdens.
But these opinions Of mine are not
important now" he said. THE fact
is that, whether for good or bad, a
majority Of the Filipino people have
by their mandate accepted the provi-
sions Of the independence act"
Advantages Seen.
Although Filipino business men are
opposed to early independence, many
Filipino leaders see certain advan-
tages In President Quezon's immediate
independence proposal. Their rea-
sons for accepting 1t are:
l. Freedom in 1898 or 1899 would
enable their foremost statesmen to
work under conditions Of his liking.
2. Trade arrangements are one
sided under the independence act, by
which Philippine exports to the
mother country are limited and i'm
posed upon with gradually increas-
ing export tax, while United States
products continue to flow into the
islands without any restriction what
soever.
3. There is no guarantee that Con-
eress may not place more restrictions
on Philippine exports to the United
States.
T. There is no possibility that the
Philippines can obtain preferential
treatment in matters of trade without
some sort Of political relationship
cal relationship, which does not allow
complete political independence Of the
Philippines, would not be satisfac-
tory to liberty-loving Filipinos
S. President Quezon's ambition Is
20 be head Of really sovereign re-
public. He says that he cannot and
will not be President OF the Philip
pines at the expiration of his present
term on November Is. 1941. Although
independence in 1888 or 1889 may
. prove too soon for the good of the
Philippine sugar and coconut indus
tries, it is the wise thing to utilize
able Manuel Quezons services during
the infant days of the republic, as
the early Americans utilized George
Washington's.
s. If the Philippines assume full
independence next year, President
Quezon will have the opportunity for
three years not only to plan what is
best for the Philippines but to execute
that plan, without possible interfer-
ence from the United States.