Independence Plan Opposed
p. 42 · Read in the full issue
The Philippines
A FTER 18 months of semi self-govern ment, under the protection of the United States, planters and financiers of the Philippine Islands are openly voicing the opinion that the group is not fit for full self-government and independence.
They are urging a modification of the Tydings-McDuffle Act, by which complete independence will be achieved and the Philippines Republic will come into exist ence in 1945. They wish the present Commonwealth to continue, and are seek ing to have a resolution to this effect presented to the U.S. Government.
Hitherto the Tydings-McDuffle Act had had the support of President Manuel Quezon and of both the lead ng parties, which, between them, hold 85 out of the 98 seats in the National Assembly.
It is now clear that the granting of independence to the Philippines would damage the Commonwealth’s trade enormously, as the group’s produce (mostly sugar) would have little chance of competing with exports from Java and Cuba if the U.S. protective tariffs were withdrawn in 1945.