The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-29

O., Md).
 Preliminary hearings held early in March revealed surprisingly strong support for independence in Puerto Rico, which only a few years ago was vocal in it's desire to become the 49th state of the Union.
 Eleven senators and 9 island rep reSentatives sent a cable to Sena- tor Tydings giving strong support to his bill. Many informed persons believe that when hearings are re- stunned late in April, after the end of the insular legislative session, virtually the entire legislature of 39 representatives and 19 senators will be behind the bill.
 Led by MunOz Marin
 The Puerto Rican delegation will be headed by Don Luis Munoz Marin, president of the Senate and the islands leading political figure, and Dr. Francisco SuSoni, speaker of the House of Representatives.
 An important factor in the ulti- mate fate of the bill will be the stand taken by Munoz Marin, who in the '30s was Puerto Rico's most influential and articulate "inde- pendista" in Washington, but who has been soft-pedaling the issue since his ascent to island domina- ton as head of the Popular Demo- cratic Party in 1940.
 It is reported by friends of Munoz that, while he still believes deeply in political independence for his island, he also fears that it will mean economic slavery if the protection, given the island by its inclusion within the U. s. tariff walls is removed.
 His opinion of the Tydings bill as now drawn is not high. Recently he told as much to political gathering in San Juan. There was once a famous American named Patrick Henry" he related, 'who said give me liberty or give me death" Now there's another Amer ican named Tydings who wants to give us both at the same time.' Tariff Prime Factor
 However, many Puerto RicanS pin their hopes for economic salvation under independence on ar GsaeE6- ment to the Tydings McDuffie Act recently advanced by Jaime Hern- andeZ. Finance Secretary of the Philippine Commonwealth, asking that existing trade relationships be- tween the U. s. the Philippines be continued for period of 20 years following the granting of independ- ence to the Pacific islands.
 The Tydings-McDuffle bill for the Philippines, and the Puerto Rican bill, both provide for grad ual removal of tariff protection from the islands, at the rate o1 five per cent yearly for 20 years until all tariff ties are severed Tydings' has said the Filipino re- quest will get sympathetic hear ing" from Congress, and the Puer- to Ricans feel that Congress can not consistently withhold anything from Puerto Ricans which they would grant another subject people
 Another touchy matter which will be discussed when the Senate hearings reopen will be U. s. mili. tary rights in the proposed Puerto Rican republic. In the preliminary hearings Conception de Garcia president of the Pro-Independence Congress of Puerto Rico. told the Territories committee that Puerto Ricans would object to the United States holding island military bases fin perpetuity" or to the talking of land "mandatorily without con- sidering the rights of the sovereign republic of Puerto Rico"
 U. S. Holds Large Bases
 At present the U. s. has largt military and naval installations 1T Puerto Rico, and 1t is possible more will be needed lest the islanC become a Pearl Harbor of the At lantic'' in some future conflict. I'm Navy has said it would not objec to passage of the Tydings measur' SO long. as its installations ar