2566 _CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE APRIL 28 The VICE PRESIDENT. Without objection, the nomina- f the hope that the members would be received as bearers of "th~ ·on · confirmed and without .obJ'ection the President will richest blessings of a llberating rather than a ~onquering nation. t I IS • • ' Dr. Jacob Gould Schurman, who was president of that com- be notified. mission, gave solemn assurance that "the political emancipa- That comnletes the calendar. tion of the Filipinos was the controlling object with the President ~ and people of the United States." ADJOURNMENT TO MONDAY Speaking of America's motives and objects, Dr. Schurman later The Senate resumed legislative session. said: he Senate " Our purpose was not selfish, it was humanitarian; it was not Mr. ROBINSON o f Ark ansas. I move that t the vanity of self-aggrandizement, it was not the greed of power adjourn until 12 o'clock noon Monday. and dominion; no, no; not these, but altruism caring for the The motion was agreed to; and (at 7 o'clock and 3 min- happiness of others, philanthropy relieving the Filipinos of op­ utes p.m.> the Senate adjourned until Monday, May 1, 1933, pression and conferring on them the blessings of liberty." 'clock meridian. The liberation of the Philippines as an objective has been at 12 O promised by every President from McKinley and by the Congress. It is the alpha and omega of America's colonial experiment in the NOMINATIONS. Orient. The Philippines is a tropical country blessed with rich and Executive nominations received by the Senate April 28 <l egis-· abundant natural resources. It has an area of 115,000 square lative day of Apr. 17), 1933 miles or about the size of all the New England States and New York combined. Agriculture is the basic industry of the people ENvOY EXTRAORDINARY AND MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY now numbering over 13,000,000. My country can comfortably be Warren Delano Robbins. of New York. now Chief of the the home of fifty or sixty million. Division of Protocol, Department of State, to be Envoy The F111pinos are essentially of Malayan ancestry. Racially they are a homogeneous people. Inheritors of an oriental culture, Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United their civilization has been enriched by the impacts of Latin and States of America to Canada. Anglo-Saxon infiuences. The Filipinos are lovers of education. They had a college as GOVERNOR OF PUERTO RICO early as 1601 and a university as early as 1611. Parents make Robert Hayes Gore. of Florida, to be Governor of Puerto every sacrifice for the training of their children. There are in the Rico. islands today some 8,500 schools and colleges and 5 universities. There are over 31,000 teachers and about one million and a half pupils and students. Thirty percent of our budget goes to the CONFIRMATION support of popular education. The record of literacy in the Phil- Executive nomination confirmed by the Senate April 28 ippines is higher and better than that of 37 countries that are independent. (legislative day of Apr. 17), 1933 we are a Christian people. The last omclal census shows that DIRECTOR OF THE MINT 5 percent of the inhabitants are pagans, 4: percent are Moham­ medans, often referred to as Moros, and 91 percent are Christians. Nellie Tayloe Ross to be Director of the Mint. The alleged danger from the Moros, or our Mohammedan brethren, is mere fiction-a bugaboo. In the last three decades the Philippines has witnessed remark­ able progress. An excellent school system has been established HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES with English as the basis of instruction. An educated Filipino FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1933 knows three or more languages. Peace and order have existed throughout the archipelago. Health and sanitation have been The House met at 12 o'clock noon. improved. Mortality has been reduced. Roads, bridges, port works, irrigation systems, and other public improvements have been con­ The Chaplain, Rev. James Shera Montgomery, DD., structed. Means of transportation and communication and inter­ offered the following prayer: island shipping have been developed. A program of conservation, forestation, and reforestation has been followed. The national Ever-blessed Father in Heaven. sheltered again by Thy wealth and production. trade, and commerce have increased. Jus­ merciful providence, bless and sustain us by the life and tice has been administered without fear or favor through a unified the light within. Commune with each heart that all may system of courts. The legislature has made a commendable record. From the implantation of civil administration in 1901 the Philip­ have strength in the good and power to resist the evil. pine government has been self-supporting. Our budget has been Mark out and direct our paths, and by Thy grace divine balanced. While the currencies of most countries have greatly may we be able to sincerely understand that we are masters depreciated, the Philippine money has remained at par and the of our souls. Awaken the divine in us. and may we be in­ country's currency continues on a sound gold-exchange basis. In a word, we have established and maintained a stable government. spired with faith in the truth. faith in justice, and. faith in The Congress of the United States has recognized that the the American people. Almighty God. help us to add wis­ time has come for definite action on the question of Philippine dom to wisdom, earnestness to earnestness. endeavor· to independence. Following the passage of the Organic Act of 1902 " temporarily to provide for the administration of the affairs of endeavor so that in the sight of heaven and earth this Con­ civil government in the Philippine Islands", and the Autonomy gress may legislate wisely, faithfully, and justly. Amen. Act of 1916, the Seventy-second Congress, despite strong opposi- The Journal of the proceedings of yesterday was read and tion, on January 17, 1933, passed the Philippine Independence Act. I do not hesitate to say that this congressional action 1s approved. the greatest and most important fact in the entire history of American-Filipino relations. AMERICA LIBERATING THE fffiLIPPINES What have the Filipinos been petitioning Congress these many Mr. OSIAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to ex- years? What has America granted the Filipinos in the PhUip.:. tend my remarks in the RECORD. pine Independence Act? I shall employ the remaining minutes to answer these and indicate the important provisions of the act. The SPEAKER. Is there objection? The new law is an independence law. It is an act that pro:. There was no objection. vides for the withdrawal of American sovereignty over the Philip­ ~.ir. OSIAS. Mr. Speaker, under unanimous consent to pine Islands. It 1s America's response to the repeated petitions of the Fllipinos for the early grant of their independence. extend my remarks in the RECORD I insert the following ad­ The Philippine Independence Act is to take effect upon accept­ dress delivered by myself on April 27, 1933, over station ance " by concurrent resolution of the Philippine Legislature or WOR in New York City, on America Liberating the Philip- a convention called for the purpose • • • ." It is in the hands pines: of the Filipino people to give effectivity to its provisions and set in motion the processes and mechanism contemplated by the act. Ladies and gentlemen of the radio audience, as an offi.cial rep­ The Philippine Legislature, as early as 1922, asked the Congress resentative of the Philippines in this country, I am privileged "for authority to call and hold a constitutional convention." to convey over Station WOR the Filipino people's message of good The Congress passed the act " to enable the people of the Philip­ will and gratitude to the people of the United States. pine Islands to adopt a constitution " for a government of the I elected to speak on a timely subject, "America Liberating the Philippine Commonwealth "within 1 year after the enactment Philippines." It is just now, and for the next few years should of this act'', and, a few years later, an amended constitution for be, of vital interest to the whole world. the Philippine Republic. The genesis of American-Filipino relationship dates back to the The Filipinos have long clamored for increased autonomous war which in 1898 America waged against Spain avowedly for powers. The act provides for the inauguration of an autonomous the liberation of peoples oppressed and dependent. As a result Commonwealth government after the President has certified that of that war Spain was compelled to cede her sovereignty over the the constitution conforms with the provisions of the act, and the Philippine Islands to the United States. Filipinos have ratified the constitution and elected the necessary Soon after the signing of the treaty of peace in Paris, President offi.cials. McKinley decided to send the first Philippine Commission to the The Filipinos have been demanding the Fllipiniza.tion of the islands. In his instructions of January 20, 1899, he expressed government service. This can be achieved effectively and quickly 1933 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 2567 by the acceptance of the act and the inauguration of the new Filipinos will enable them to retain the faith, respect, and friend­ government without unnecessary delay. Filiplnization may be ship of the Government and people of the Unlted States. effected in three coordinate branches of the government. I believe that, after the acceptance of the act, such flaws America, by this act. offers the transfer of property and rights or defects as It may have can be mitigated or remedied .(1) acquired in the islands, with certain reservations, to the govern­ through the constitution that we shall formulate and adopt; ment of the Commonwealth.