Republic Of

Philippines

Roxas Takes Charge Under Direction and Protection of United States

OSMENA, president, and leader of a Conservative Government, was deci sively defeated on April 23, when 3,000,000 voted (in a population of 18,000,000) in the Philippines general election.

The new president is General Manuel Roxas, leader of a breakaway section of the Conservatives; former member of the Jap-controlled puppet Government; lately president of the Senate; and des cribed as a strong and colourful per sonality.

The Philippines will be formally de clared an independent republic, on July 4, 1946, in accordance with the Tydings- McDuffie Act, signed by the President of the United States on March 24, 1934.

Fears that the disruption caused by the Pacific war would make it necessary to postpone the declaration of Philippines independence have been set aside, it was officially announced early in 1946 that the original plan would be carried out in its entirety.

Nominally independent, the Philippines Republic will be both politically and com mercially under the influence and pro tection of the United States for a long time. On May 1, President Truman signed an agreement providing for pre ferential trade between United States and Philippines for 28 years; Philippines pro ducts will be admitted to the United States free of duty until July 3, 1954, after which duties may be applied grad ually; and United States is to give direct aid to the Philippines, amounting to 525 million dollars, and transfer also to the republic about 100 million dollars worth of surplus war goods.

ALTHOUGH*- the seven-party “popular front,” called the Democratic Alli an.C 6, a PP to dominate the Philippines Parliament, overshadowing the Conservative parties, it is apparent that the policies and administration of the new republic will be powerfully in fluenced and moulded by the new President Roxas, whose personal character and in clinations tend towards dictatorship. If he is held in check by American in fluence, he probably will provide an effi cient administration, and hold in control the left wing of the Democratic Alliance, where there is a strong and restive Com munist Party, led by the extremist Luis Taruc, The Communists are called the Hukba lap—popularly, the Huks—and, if there should be weakness or indecision in the central administration, they are capable of fomenting revolt. All the elements of revolution are in the country. Adminis tration is chaotic; national finance is (hence the need for America’s $525,000,000); the chief industries— especially sugar production have been seriously disrupted; food is in short sup ply; and the country has suffered enor mous war damage—Manila city still is a wreck.

PROBABLY, it was because the. Philip pines picture is so ugly that General MacArthur backed Mapuel Roxas There was no apparent reason why Roxas

should not have gone to gaol with the other collaborators.

When the Americans returned, and the other Puppet Ministers were safely put away, Roxas was received warmly by the American Commander-in-Chief, placed on his stall, and added to the Philippines Cabinet as soon as President Osmena arrived from America. It was pointed out that Roxas had signed the Puppet Con stitution; that he was at the head of the Economic Planning Board set up by the Japs: that he was one who signed the Philippines declaration of war against the United States. But General MacArthur said Roxas had been left behind in the Philippines to do a par ticular job; and, if the voting is any indication, that assurance has been accepted by the Filipinos.

The Philippines Republic, for better or worse, is to be set upon a certain course.

United States money and protection have been provided. A captain has been

chosen. If wisdom has directed these things, we may see a new and vigorous nation arise in the north-west Pacific, in

the next 50 years. But if as some critics insist—there has been lack of wis dom, if Roxas should prove to be merely a decorative adventurer, the new republic will be convulsed by economic troubles and torn by civil war before the end of 1947.

There has been an increase in petty crime in Western Samoa in recent months. Police have warned house holders not to leave their property un guarded; but, in spite of this, there have been a number of cases o£ breaking and entering by young lads. Stores in Apia and the country districts have been ran sacked also.