INDEPENDENCE FOR THE PHILIPPINES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10835, 6 April 1932, Page 3

INDEPENDENCE FOR THE PHILIPPINES

Bill Passed by U.S. House of Representatives. GRAVE ISSUES RAISED. New York, April 4. A message from Washington states that the House of Representatives to-day passed the Hare Bill to grant independence to the -Philippines at the end of eight years. The correspondent of the New York Times at Washington says the passage of the bill by an overwhelming majority, clearly indicating, the preponderance of American public opinion in favour of America’s withdrawal from the Par East, is viewed with considerable alarm in Government circles. There it is considered that the action is likely to result ip serious repercussions in world affairs, oven if the Senate extends (lie time limit, which is considered likely or if the President. Mr Hoover, vetoes the Dill. Coincident with to-day’s vote was the- publication of a letter writtem to Mr H. Bingham, Republican member of • the Semite for C junecticut, bv the Secretary of State Mr H. L. Stimson. dated February 12, in wok!) the writer vigorously opposed independence for t;>e islands at preset t.

An agitation to change the staus of the Philippines at present would inflame most dangerous possibilities.” said Mr Stimson. “When conditions in the Far East are chaotic and when out of rite Orient may come one cf those his-oric movements which will disturb the whole world, independence fo- the Philippines would be an irreparable blow to American influence in the East.”

The passage of the bill is regarded particularly as a blow to Holland and Britain in view of their respective troubles in the East Indies and India. It is believed further that it will npf.tt the whole Far Pacific balance. One official commented to-day “No graver news has come to Britain and Holland since the days of the Great War.” Apparently he meant that an increase in colonial military requnements would upset Geneva calculations.

The agitation for the hill presented an unusual alliance between representatives of Wall Street and agricultural interests in the House. The former wish for protection for their sugar interests in Cuba and the latter are desirous of excluding Philippine sugar from competition with the domestic product.