Evening star., 1937-04-25
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uAuhSoA atAol ol Ine nealCn department.
brought to light.
For us to leave now after teaching
these people to want higher standard
OF living will be far worse than to
nave abandoned them at the end Of
the Spanish-American War Gov. Gen.
Wood was right when he said, IF this
Phlllpplne experiment fails, although
The F1lipinos are directly in charge of
II, 1t will nevertheless go down In his
tory as an American failure"
Filipinos Favor Plan.
Contrary to the reticent attitude of
the American residents of the Philip
pines concerning the proposed short
enlng of the transition period and the
granting of independence in 1888 or
1889, leading Filipino politicians,
economists, and industrialists aired
their opinions and were anxious to be
quoted in the press. Much flag waving
and enthusiastic oratory greeted the
first announcement of President Que
cons demands in Washington.
The first pronouncement of appro-
val came from the veteran rebel, Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo, head of the Filipino
veterans and leader of the Republican
party, minority group belonging to
the Popular Alliance, which strongly
advocates immediate independence.
Another minority group leader, VIM
cent Soto, head of the Philippine
Civic Union, expressed enthusiastic
support OF his organization in a tele-
gram to President Quezon.
Prof. Jose L. Celeste, former secre-
tary OF the National Economic Coun-
ell, and DR.. Andres Castillo, acting
secretary of the council, both econo-
mlsts and professors of local univer-
sites. took the position that inde-
pendence in year or two would be
much better than proceeding with the
Tydlngs-McDuffie economic restric-
tions
Early independence will start the
philippines early in its economic pro-
gram and not wait for the time when
the transition period is over" Prof.
Celeste said. Independence will re-
move the free entry of American
goods which competes with Philip
pine industries, as, for example, fish
and fish products, cigarettes, vege-
tables and dairy products. Independ-
ence will clothe us with exclusive
tariff powers which will assure US OF
the development of our young indus
tries.
The transitional plan enabling ad-
tustment would be best If we are given
the means to make adjustments DOS
stble-such as tariff and currency
autonomy, but if no changes are OBJ
talnable In the Tydings- -McDuf1e re-
strictions immediate independence is
preferable"
University Professor Objects.
The first dissenting voice was that
of Abdon Llorente, executive secre-
tary of the Advisory Committee on
Philippine American Trade Relations
and professor Of economics at the
University OF the Philippines. He de-
clared it was unwise and would be
rash OF the Filipinos to indorse
shortening OF the transition period,
even II no improvements can be OBJ
tanned In the present economic nego-
tiations In Washington.
"It is, OF course, very important
that we seek changes in the inde-
pendence law to remove inequalities,
but failing in this effort does not
justify our asking for a worse bar
gain" he said. Even if we fail in
cur efforts to obtain Improvements we
should proceed with the 10-year pro-
gram, and in the meanwhile exert
every effort to reach an understand
ing with respect to economic relations
with the United States after 1946,
because, after all, that is our most
serious problem. Shall we continue
trading with the United States after
l946 or shall We seek trade relations
with, say, England, Japan and other
countries?"
Prof. Llorente maintains that
Philippine industries can survive the
restrictions Of the Tydings- -McDufie
act, including sugar, providing the
producers would accept what he terms
q reasonable profit.
Sugar can stand the maximum Of
the export tax of Is per cent" he
said. THE prosperity of the industry
under present limitations is an indi-
OF course, there would be no huge
profits, but there would be reason
able return. That is the essence Of
adjustment
Prof. Llorente's views were imme-
diately attacked by the Filipino press
on the basis OF 'disloyalty" to Presi-
dent Quezon and to the PresidentS
expressed hopes for early independ-
ence.
Press Comes to Defense.
The only American-owned news
paper, the Manila Bulletin, came to
Prof. Llorente's defense.
But the Philippine Herald, an eve
ming newspaper, in which President
Quezon is said to own a controlling
interest, answered the Bulletin with
an editorial headed Freedom and
Discipline" in which Prof Llorente
was accused of disloyalty to President
Quezon, as chief executive and his
employer. The suggestion was made
that he should have resigned II he
wished to criticize.
Prof. Llorente made no official an
Bwer. but has asked for a six months
leave from his duties as special re-
search expert for the Philippine Ma
tional Bank and secretary Of the Ad-
visory Committee on Trade Relations.
Previously he had planned to go to the
United States, but after the storm OF
criticism caused by the expression of
his personal views he changed his
plans.
Placido L. Mapa, president Of
the Finance Corp. of the Philippines
: and executive Of three sugar centrals.