International Aspects of Philippine Independence

WT1HY take up the Philippine question now? The recent events in China and Manchuria certainly do not mark a propitious time for the launching of an independent Philippine nation. This was probably the reaction of many people upon hearing that the House of Representatives of the United States approved by an overwhelming majority a Philippine independence bill and that the Senate is now scheduled take up the consideration of a similar measure. It should be noted that no one of the bills proposed calls for immediate political separation of the Philippines from America. The House plan provides for independence in eight years and the Senate plan in nineteen years. It can be reasonably expected that by the time set in either of the bills the Far Eastern situation will have become stabilized. If anything, these proposed bills should fortify America's moral position in the Far East. The principle for which China is fighting today is the same principle which animates the Filipinos in their struggle for independence. Both want complete freedom rule their own homes; both want be arbiters of their own destiny. China asks that Japan live up her word as a signatory the Nine-Power Treaty, the Kellogg Pact and the Covenant of the League of Nations. Similarly, though in a peaceful way, the Filipino people request that the United States live up the promise contained in the Jones Law. There is a curious similarity in the wording of the Nine-Power Treaty and the Jones Law. Japan and the other nations, under the Nine-Power Treaty, agreed to provide the fullest and most unembarrassed opportunity China develop and maintain for herself an effective and stable government. America, in the Jones Law, pledged to give the Philippines their independence as soon as a stable government can be established therein. The Filipinos maintain that they have fulfilled the condition of a stable government and that, therefore, independence should follow. This stand has earned the hearty support of an American President and a Governor-General. We do not see the logic of the argument that because of the Sino-Japanese trouble, America should retain the Philippines indefinitely, and thus give up the idea of redeeming her pledge the Filipino people. If America condemns Japan's acts as imperialistic, that should make her the more inclined redeem her

Independence (probability theory) · Political science · Statistics · Mathematics · Philippine History and Culture