Evening star., 1939-12-03
Observer Says Filipinos Are
Fully Equipped for Freedom
Member of Commissioner McNutt's Former Staff
Also Pictures Quezon as Holding
Affection of People
By p. ". Reeves

ouments against Philippine independ-
ence in 1916. Mr.. ReeueS, former
member OF the Philippine High Com
misSioner's staff, herewith presents
the other side OF the picture.
In recent months there have been nu-
merous articles in magazines and news
papers which have implied, either di-
rectly or indirectly, that the Filipinos
have lost their enthusiasm for inde-
pendence, that the islands could not
exist as an independent commonwealth
and that the leadership of President
Manuel Quezon is unreliable and un-
stable. All these articles have the ap-
pearance of being part of a concerted
effort to keep the United States in the
islands at all costs. Certainly have found
in them no suggestion of the Philip
pine situation as I was privileged to see
1t while member of the staff of High
Commissioner McNutt. True facts about
the islands, and an honest appraisal of
President Quezon, seem to be studiously
avoided.
I am not paid representative or
agent. am not a lobbyist My interest
Is desire for fair play. am at present
secretary to a member of Congress- and
IN the past I have served as chief Sec
fetary to five members. While I have
no wish to probe the motives of those
who disparage the character of President
Quezon and the progress made by the
Filipino people, do have a strong de-
sire to relate, in as direct a manner as
possible, something of what l learned
and observed during an extended stay
in the islands. In the Office of the
high commissioner I had an unusual
opportunity to study reports coming from
all parts of the Philippines, and to hear
the testimony of those intimately IA
miliar with island affairs.
left the islands firmly convinced that
the policy of the Re-eXaminationists,
who seek to prolong indefinitely our rule
In the Philippine Islands, is entirely
without real justification. Their proposals
are merely strategy to continue American
occupation and control On the con-
trary. I feel strongly that we should
withdraw from the Philippines. There
is already on the statute books a law
providing for independence in 1916 and
that law should be carried out. Up to
and including June 30, 1898, the cost of
the Philippine Islands to the United
States reached the total of 1913 ,43O .o86.
The Bureau of Insular Affairs estimates
that the United States is now expending
S250O0,000 annually. To what purpose
will these enormous expenditures have
been made if, as the "Re-eXamination-
lists" claim the islands will not be ready
for independence in 1916? Furthermore,
I can testify that the Filipino people
are overwhelmingly in favor of this in
dependence, and as an American 1 feel
that this course is the one compatible
with our own interests and obligations.
and with the honor of our original VEN
ture In the islands.
The Japanese Menace"
Much has been said of the assumption
that Japan might soon annex the islands
should the United States withdraw its
present hold over the Philippines. Gen.
Douglas Macarthur is authority for the
angle of military strategy, japanese con-
quest of the islands is extremely unlikely.
Possession of the islands would only
weaken Japan's military position with
relation to both Russia and China, her
recognized enemies in the Orient, and
would Introduce a hazardous weakness,
1t would split the japanese Empire
into tuyn {oJ t,,,o n
OF ocean, and would divide the japanese
naval strength in manner to benefit
both China and Russia.
1t has been stated that President
Quezon is bitterly hated by large por-
ton OF the people of the Philippines.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
This sort of attack upon the President
OF the Philippine Commonwealth is not
new. Before I went to the islands as a
member of the staff of High Commits
sioner McNutt, I had been somewhat in
huenced IN my preconceived opinion of
President Quezon by similar statements
which I had seen from time to time in
the American press 1t did not take me
long to discover the odd fact that most
OF this criticism comes from the very
people whose interests have been best
served by President Quezon's reforms and
progressive leadership. These critics
seem unmindfuI of the fact that their
business profits and well-being came
about because of President Quezon's ad-
ministration. Within the short space of
time in which he has been head of the
commonwealth government there have
been advancements in public works, in
education, in sanitation and health i'm
provements and in other gains un-
paralleled in any previous period of the
Islands history
1t has been stated further in recent
articles that the Philippine Common
wealth is now faced by the dilemma
of peasant revolt" I know this to be
far from the truth. Like any political
leader, President Quezon has his partisan
opponents. Many of these enemies he
has won over to his side by fair treat
ment. One of his stanch supporters at
the present time, the Vice President of
the Philippine Commonwealth, Sergio
Osmena, was formerly bitter opponent.
Every leader since the beginning of time
has had opponents Of the bitterest sort,
and President Quezon is no exception.
There Is not national leader today who
does not have host of enemies within
his own country, but no one suggests
that the United States Is in grave danger