Evening star., 1937-02-14
MIR. Ouezon's Visit.

President Manuel Quezon of the Phil
ippine commonwealth will arrive in
Washington within few days to begin
the second phase of the long struggle
for Philippine independence in which
he has played so prominent part. His
mission is to pave the way for attempted
modification of the independence act.
This act grants not mere political in
dependence at the end of ten years, but
places upon the islands the doubtful
advantages of economic independence
as well. While they have sought po-
litical independence, the Filipino po-
litical leaders shun the responsibility Of
q too-sudden economic independence
represented in withdrawal of the priv
ileges of free trade with the United
States.
Preceding by a few days President
Quezon's arrival in the United States,
the United States Tariff Commission
released an exhaustive report on United
States-P Philippine trade relations which
will have important bearing on the ques-
ton of trade concessions. The report
points out the fact that Philippine inde-
pendence will not produce important
changes in the economic life of the
United States, but will play vitality inn
portant part in the economic life OF
the Philippines. This emphasizes the
handicap faced by the Filipino leaders.
They have little bargaining power, little
to offer in return for what they ask.
Added to this is the dismal fact that
while the Filipinos may now call on
the United States to exercise its altru-
istic obligations to the islands, by grant
of continued trade concessions, it was
not altruisfn, but an essentially selfish
desire to eliminate the competition of
duty-free Philippine products that really
brought about the grant of independ-
ence. Mr.. Quezon and his brethren
must convince the people of the United
States that their moral responsibility to
the islands does not end with the grant
of political independence, but now ex-
tends to nurturing the Philippine in
dustries which were developed under
free trade and which are threatened
with extinction should those privileges
be withdrawn.
The facts produced by the tariff COM
mission study indicate that terms of the
independence act, as written, may be
too harsh; that important enterprises
in the Philippines will be forced to the
wall more rapidly than new, substitute
enterprises can be developed for compe-
tition in the markets Of the world. And
the economic chaos thus invited would,
Of course, jeopardize the political gov
ernment of the islands and perhaps de-
mand continued Intervention by the
United States instead of permitting
graceful withdrawal If the United
States has determined on a policy of
complete withdrawal, bag and baggage,
it may be necessary to grant trade con-
cessions in order to make that policy ef-
fective.
Mr.. Quezons visit to Washington will
be marked by conferences with the Pres
ident and other Government officials in
advance of the United States-Ph Philippine
trade and economic conference the
President is expected to call some time
in the near future. The independence
act provided for such a conference at
- least year in advance of complete in
dependence, July 4, 1916. The Filipinos
are anxious that the conference be
hastened, because the economic shoe
will begin to pinch the islands long be-
fore 1916. The independence act cam
not be amended by this conference of
course. That power lies only with Con-
gress. AS Congress granted Philippine
independence primarily to end Philip
pine competition, the extent to which
Congress will go in continuing Philip
pine competition along with Philippine
independence remains to be settled. Mr..
Quezon is an astute politician, but he
will need all Of his powers Of persuasion.