Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1927. THE PHILIPPINES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVII, Issue 10926, 26 May 1927, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1927. THE PHILIPPINES.

From time to time there come from tlie Philippines reports of disturbances, with reprisals, involving bloodshed on both sides. There are doubtless many instances in which pure banditry is the cause of the trouble, but in the main the source is to be found in the determination of the Filipinos to obtain independence of the United States, which, however, the latter country has refused to grant' on the plea that the people are not (fitted for self-gov-ernment, The Philippines were ceded to the United States by the Treaty of Paris* in December, 1898, after the Spanish-American war. The preamble to the Jones Act, passed by the United States Congress in 1916, to give the islands a Parliament instead ot a governing commission, declared That “it has always been the purpose of the people of the United States to withdraw their sovereignty over the Philippine- Islands •and to recognise their independ*>nc as soQU as stable government can he established tnerein. Un assuming office in 1921 President Harding sent General Wood and a . former Governor-General to the Philippines to make a complete survey of conditions. In their report they recommended, among other things, “that the present general status of the Philippine Islands continue until the people have had time to absorb and thoroughly master the powers already in their hands, and “that in no circumstances should the American Government permit to be established in the islands a situation which would leave the United States in a position ot responsibility without authority. Following friction which arose between the Parliament and the Governor-General, President Coolidge wrote to Manuel Roxas, Speaker of the House, declaring, inter alia : “It is not possible to consider the extension of a larger measure of autonomy to the rilipino people until they have demonstrated a readiness and capacity to co-operate fully and effectively with the American Government and authorities.