The Waikato Times With which Is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1923. THE PHILIPPINES.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15360, 8 October 1923, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which Is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1923. THE PHILIPPINES.

The cablegram just to hand from Manila recording the issue of the Philippine elections indicates that the result supports the stand taken by the anti-American party. The message further records the expectation that the Democrats will join in a national undertaking to overthrow the lautocratio ■ Governor-General, and to achieve the earliest independence of the country. The Philippines', which with Cuba were acquired from Spain subsequently to the Spanish-American war, have given the United States considerable trouble. Unlike Cuba, the Philippines are not a sovereign Slate, but a dependency of the United

States. A Constitution established in 1916, when President Wilson was at the White House, and sanctioned by the "Jones Act," provides for a Senate and a House of Representatives, in both of which the great majority is elective, and for a Governor-General, appointed by the President of the United States and-responsible only to the American Government. The difficulties of making 1 such u. system work smoothly are obvious. It has ceased to work smoothly, and certain Americans in the Islands have been talking of an early "crisis." Washington docs not talk at all, and docs not want to have this subject talked of in the United States by others, until after the Presidential election of next year. But Mr Manuel Quezon, the President of the Philippine Senate and a very astute politician, persists in talking about it very loudly, and he lias many equally vocal followers. These men proclaim their object. They demand no less than national independence, and they challenge the moral right of the Governor-General to veto domestic laws passed by the Legislature, or to interfere in any way with these laws. The right of veto is expressly given the Governor-General by the Jones Act, but the Filipino Nationalists subtly contend that it ought not to extend beyond measures affecting foroign relations or encroaching upon the sovereignty of the United States. They maintain that the United States must make cither the Legislature or the

Governor-General exclusively responsible. Through the Senato they have already defeated several appointments which the Governor-General has made, and he has been often baffled by a "stalemate." However, General Leonard Wood, who has held the ofllcc since 1921, is patient, sagacious, and experienced, lie keeps his own counsel—doubtless with the approval of Washington—and ho avoids every appearance of a rupture with tlio Houses. Mr Quezon and his friends invoke the preamble of the Jones Act in support of their pretensions. The Act was passed when Mr Wilson was President and the Democrats had large majorities in Congress. The preamble affirms the constant purpose of the American people to withdraw their sovereignty over the Philippine ■ Islands and to recognise their independence as soon as a stable government can be established therein." In the spring of 1921 President Harding sent General Wood, with Mr Cameron Forbes, a former Governor-General, as his colleague, to examine the situation in the islands. They made, amongst others, these important recommendations ;—First, 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, secondly, "that under no circumstances should the American ■ Government permit to be established in the Philippine Islands a situation which would leave the United States in a position of responsibility without authority." Tho first, of theso recommendations' shows that General Wood and his colleague did not think the Filipinos ripe for more power than they possessed at the date of the report; the second condemns with emphasis the very system which Mr Quezon and his supporters seem to desire. Evidently they realise the inability of the Filipinos to defend, or to develop, their splendid territory. All the latter really want is full control of all home questions, Including, of course, control of the Exchequer. They would be pleased to leave their foreign relations and the duty of protecting them to the care of the United States. There are peoples in other parts of the world very anxious to enjoy the benefit of- similar arrangements. Whether the American people would be willing to agree to such a one-sided system is perhaps doubtful. If the Filipinos are prudent they will not provoke a premature solution, and they will not badger the "autocratic Governor-General."