Evening star., 1940-07-13
Aquina|do and Quezon
Bury Hatchet Over
Party Issues
Agree Philippines Need
But One Political Group
Until independence
BY WALTER ROBB,

ny EN- nObO,
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent
MANILA-Old Gen. Emilio Agui-
naldo, 72 years old, and oldish Pres
ident Quezon, g., have mutually
buried the hatchet and agreed that
the Philippines need only one po-
litical party, Quezon's, until they
get their independence-July 4, 1916.
Don't fool yourselves, it's COM
ing July 4, 1946!" Quezon tells Fill
pinos who prefer to delay inde-
pendence.
No more political division among
Filipinos till then, Aguinaldo says,
and especially none at this time
when small countries in Europe
are being swallowed like fisn."
These two patriots were brought
together in the annual celebration
June II, anniversary of the day that
Gen. Aguinaldo proclaimed the in
dependence of the Philippines at
his home and army headquarters at
Kawit, Cavite, in 1898, long before
his break with Comdr. George
Dewey (Who was enforcing a block
age of Manila with his f1eet) and
long before America decided that
Spain would have to cede the Phil
ippines to her.
1t was just six weeks after the
battle of Manila Bay.
Rise in Politics.
Aguinaldo was already Philip
pine hero. from the fight he gave
the Spaniards in 1896. Quezon was
just old enough to be a lieutenant
in 1898. When peace came Agui-
naldo's party dwindled by age and
death. Quezon got into politics at
once. learning English as fast as he
could-and soon he had a party Of
young men idolizing him because of
his courage and audacity in de-
manding independence.
While Quezon's party grew and
Aguinaldos shrunk, Aguinaldo
charged Quezon with insincerity
about independence; on various oc-
casions when the country might
have had it from Congress, Quezon
seemed to put it off. So when the
presidential campaign came on in
1885, under the 1G-year common
wealth, Aguinaldo ran for the pres
idency on a platform Of "lets have
independence right away"
Aguinaldo has never temporized
in his views about independence nor
has he ever doubted Americas
promise to let the country 60 free
Now that he sees Quezon daily re-
buking all other attitudes he buries
all other differences with Quezon
and their friendship of old cam
paign days is renewed and reforti-
fed under new dangers.
Problems Facing Islands.
During the Quezon-Aguinaldo
love feast Germany was tightening
it's net around Paris. Italy had just
joined Germany But America was
becoming aroused more and more.
What card could Hitler have up his
sleeve to play against this?
The Philippines. know full we'll
that that card may be nothing less
than Japan. If Japan is persuaded
to occupy the Dutch East Indies,
French Indo-C China and the Philip
pines, that might precipitate wa,
between Japan and the United
States.
War in the western Pacific with
Japan would divide American mill
tary interest and resources during
the European war. 1t would in
crease Hitler's chances to win In
Europe immeasurably, and he would
be strong enough to settle later with
Japan.
Different Gamble.
But the gamble of the Philip.
pines is different. Their gamble il
that America would win-that she
and her allies would win on both
fronts; so before independence wa
even near Japan would be weak.
ened by major defeat at the hand
of major power and the new httl'
Philippines would be safe.
Realistically the Philippines hav'
nothing to lose by standing un
abashed in face of a possible earl!
conflict between Japan and tn
United States. If it does not arriv
Japan will remain strong-to gral
the islands when they are no longe
American territory: If it come
surely America will win-an end t.
which the Philippines will them
selves bend every effort.
Copyright. 1910, by Chicago Daily New
Incl