Evening star., 1943-09-19
By Jane Eads,
Associated Press CORRESPONDENT,

tactics simultaneously with the promise
Of independence.
Leaders here say the reason the Fill.
pinos fought the Jap invaders so bitterly
In the first place was because of the
United States pledge under the Tydinss-
McDufae Philippine Independence Act
to give them complete independence on
July 4, 1916.
Ina broadcast to the Philippines last
month, on the 45th anniversary Of Amer
ican occupation of Manila, President
Roosevelt said:
II give the Filipino people my word
that the Republic Of the Philippines will
be established the moment the power Of
our Japanese enemies Is destroyed. 80
The time will come quickly when that
goes into effect"
Manuel L. Quezon, carrying on here
his functions as President of the Philip.
pines after regaining his strength at
Saranac Lake, N. Y, following long
illness, says the Japanese promise means
"less than nothing"
Filipinos Trust Us.
Leaders Of the government in exile
here say the Filipinos have confidence
in the United States-a confidence
strengthened by President Roosevelt's re-
assurances and the news of the wars
progress, which reaches them on three
and-a-hah-hour daily broadcast on the
Manila beam from San Francisco.
The leaders here are aware, however,
Of serious aspects Of a Japanese procla-
nation Of Filipino independence"
They point out that the Japanese then
would couple the granting Of "independ-
ence" for the Philippines with their rec
ognition of Burmese independence" as
propaganda throughout Asia.
They also point out that when the
Japanese recognized the so-called in
dependence Of Burma, they forced the
puppet government In Burma to declare
war on the United States. sF
+ Obviously, they say, the Japanese will
try the same thing in the Philippines
and, If they can get one company Of
100 men to follow this line, the propa-
ganda, in terms Of psychological warfare.
will be tremendous"
Meanwhile President Quezon assures
his countrymen that the Philippines are
not being neglected.
1.-THE President, the Congress, the
American people," he says, ARE doing
and will do everything in their power to
redeem you as soon as possible from the
heel Of the invader"
Filipinos now residing In the United
States are actively preparing for the day
Of return to their homeland. On the
West Coast, two Filipino infantry regi-
ments Of some 5000 to 1000 men are in
training As q part Of the United States
Army.
A small Philippine merchant marine
three 10,o00-ton vessels-is carrying sup
plies In the service Of the United Ma
tions, while the Philippine government
In exile made gift to the United States
of a subpatrol Filipino-manned ship,
now In active service.
No Fifth Column.
About $4,000 Filipinos in the United
States and Hawaii are working In essen
tial war industries and In agriculture.
The government has oversubscribed its
War bond quota, purchasing $2,7o00 900
worth on April 20.
incidentally, the Philippines are the
only belligerent nation able to operate
on the interest of It's deposits and one
of the few able to return to its home
land with as much money as it had be-
fore the outbreak Of war.
It's leaders here say there was no fifth
column in the Philippines. The bulk OF
Gen. MacArthur's infantry in the battle
of the Philippines was Filipino, num-
bering seven to every American. On
totaled 10000 Filipinos to 5000 Amer
leans.
Underground reports disclose there Is
no real food problem, for the Filipinos
live practically on rice and fish, except
in the cities, where the Japanese are re-
ported to have looted all commercial
goods.
Lack OF quinine has resulted in the
death from malaria of $4,000 persons IN
the Philippines since the outbreak OF the
war, according to the admission OF the
Japanese, in sharp contrast with the
former annual rate Of less than 5000
such deaths.
The Philippines were ceded to the
United States by Spain in the treaty Of
Paris December 10, 1893, after the battle
Of Manila Bay, along with Guam and
Puerto Rico. The United States agreed
to pay $4,000, 900 for the archipelago.
and the acquisition started long con-
troversy as to whether the Philippines
were worth keeping and whether worth
defending-a controversy which ended
with Pearl Harbor.
President Roosevelt said in his radio
address to the Philippines
THE story Of the fighting on Bataan
and Corregidor-and, indeed, everywhere
in the Philippines-will be remembered
as long as men continue to respect
bravery and devotion and determination.
When the Filipino people resisted the
Japanese invaders with their very lives.
they gave Anal proof that here was
nation At to be respected as the equal
to any on earth, not in size or wealth.
but In the stout heart and national dig
nifty which are the true measures Of .
people,"