Evening star., 1939-07-30
independence Issue Still Open
As Soyre Goes to Philippines
High Commissioner Will Be Able
To Give President Recommendations

Philippines appointed joint pre-
paratory commission Of which j. ".
A. MacMurray, Ambassador to
Turkey, became chairman, to ex-
anime the question of economic ad-
juStment. Hearings were held and
the commission recommended legis-
lation covering both pre-independ-
ence and independence periods.
Chief Of these for the period before
1946 was replacement Of the in
creaSing export tax by decreasing
duty-free quota on some commodi-
ties and for the period after 1946
continuance OF the per cent yearly
reduction in preference, either by
export taxes or quotas, until De-
cember 81, 1860.
Implementing legislation was in
troduced in the Senate early in this
session and hearings were held, but
the bill passed in the upper house
May 81 dealt in no way with the
independence period, merely sub
stituting the declining quota for
the Increasing export tax on cor
dage, cigars, scrap tobacco, coconut
oil and pearl buttons before 1916
The export tax would be continued
on sugar and all other products.
House Takes Up Bill.
The House tomorrow takes up its
own Philippine bill, which differs
from the Senate measure only in
minor respects.
The export tax is highly objec-
tionable to the Philippines because
of its destructive effect on industry
acting as it does as virtual tariff
The use Of quotas, however, will
permit the islands to continue to
export to the United States free of
duty large but decreasing quanti-
ties, with the privilege of shipping
above the quota at regular tariff
rates.
The commercial policy of the
United States toward the islands
| after independence is, then, the
chief problem on which Mr.. Sayre
will be asked to make recommenda-
tions if the question of independ-
ence itself is not reopened.
For this task he has a rich back
ground. AS Assistant Secretary of
State since 1888, handling economics,
finance, tariffs and general trade,
he has administered the trade
agreements division and supervised
the negotiation of the 81 trade
agreements since 1884.
He opposes preferential status
for the Philippines, similar to that
of Cuba. after independence, but
advocates liberalized trade and will
examine closely the possibility of
giving the islands relief under
reciprocal trade agreement If Con-
gress fails to act.
Has Specific Functions.
The High Commissioner to the
Philippines, in his capacity OF super
ambassador, has certain supervisory
and policy cy-recommending functions
in the exercise of which he will
provide advice and direction for the
island government in other problems
confronting it as 1916 approaches.
Chief of these is national defense.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, former
United States chief of staff, is now
adviser to President Manuel Quezon
in the creation of Philippine Army
and Mr.. Sayre will supplement Gen.
Macarthur in the broader field OF
defense policy.
AS an independent state the
Philippines must formulate its own
foreign policy, predicated upon not
only its presence in an area made
turbulent by an expanding Japan,
but as well upon its relationship to
the Netherlands Indies, Australia
and the British East Indian possess
sions, and upon the continued pre-
dominance of American financial in
terests on its territories.
For giving advice on these mat
ters, Mr. Sayre is qualified by long
career in law and economies, by
seven years in an advisory capacity
to the Siamese government, during
which he acquired broad knowl-
edge of the Far East, and by his
Craftsmanship Of the Interdepart-
mental Committee on Philippine Al
fairs, in which capacity he has been
at the apex of administration Of
Philippine affairs in Washington.