Evening star., 1946-05-12

Sfdnd on outlaws,
Filipino Quis|ings
Outlaw elements and collabora.
tors with the Japanese will receive
no comfort from the man who will
take Office two weeks hence as
president of the Philippine Com
monwealth.
At press conference held jointly
with Paul V. McNutt, American
High Commissioner to the Philip
pines, President-elect Manuel A
Roxas yesterday boldly faced issues
which arose simultaneously with his
recent election. Mr.. Roxas over
came the elective handicap of Of
fetal service under the japanese
during the occupation, and observ-
ers had expected him to be as re-
luctant to discuss that subject rs
he would the armed bandits OF
South Central Luzon who supported
Roxas' opponent in the election.
Referring to the localized war
fare which has ragged since the wars
end between government repre-
sentatives and the Hukbalahap a
few score miles north of Manila
ne said he would pursue a "fuiG
policy" because he wished to "avoic
bloodshed. " However, he addec
| firmly, preservation of law and or.
der is an essential function of gov
ernment and with this there car
be no compromise"
| Expects Truman Visit.
Turning to the purpose Of his
weeks visit here, he outlined his
plans for the Philippines and said
through conferences with the Amer
lean Government he hoped to I'M
| plement legislation recently passed
by Congress. He said it was his
'fervent expectation" that President
Truman would be in Manila when
Philippine independence becomes ar
actuality July 4.
Repeatedly. he expressed his coun-
try's gratitude for the trade-prefer-
ence agreement made with the
United States. Executive agreements
between himself and Mr. Truman
are yet to be reached, but the gen.
eral purposes and principles are al
ready agreed on, he said
1 The President-elect said relations
with the United States are and al.
ways will be, I hope, the keystone
of our foreign policy and of oul
national and political economy
May Seek Two Loans.
. Unwilling to estimate how large
a loan might be asked of the Unitec
States to rebuild the war shattered
economy. Mr.. RoXas intimated hi
would ultimately seek two separate
loans. The first, he suggested, Woulc
be to cover an estimatedd five-yeal
period in which. presumably, Phil.
llpplne governmental expenditure:
will go down while revenue goes w
and ultimately approach a balance
The second, he said, would be needed
for economic rehabilitation. He sale
he hoped payaments could soon be-
gin of the $520000,0 900 authorized BY
Congress for the payment of wal
damages to private and public prop
erty.
/ Suggesting that this country in.
clude the Philippines in its list OF
nations which will receive food eX-
ports this year. Mr.. Roxas said the
islands are entering on a natiOna
existence without means Of economic
ISuStenance other than an immediate
market in the United States" II
Iexchange for American products, the
Philippines can supply sugar, tobac.
co and coconut products, he said.
/ To solve the economic troubles O.
rice growers in several Philippine
provinces, he said he favored crop
division system by which the ten.
ants would receive two thirds of the
crops and meet the expenses O.
planting and harvesting.
Peasant Unrest Discussed
] He blamed agrarian unrest on So
cial and economic conditions. ant
indicated that through kindly ane
conSiderate' treatment of the peas
ants an amicable solution of tn,
problems would be found
Commissioner McNutt told news
men that during the recent election
his office took the greatest care Il
avoid any semblance of partisan
ship. The United States. he said
has but one interest: To see a free
democratic. liberal and prosperou
Philippines, a perpetual monumen
to American pioneering and Amer
lean policy in the Orient
Mr.. Roxas and Mr.. McNutt ar
scheduled to leave Friday on thei
return trip by air to Manila.