Roosevelt, Quezon broadcast to the Philippines promise early liberation from the enemy

Media

Part of Philippines

Title: Roosevelt, Quezon broadcast to the Philippines promise early liberation from the enemy
Language: English
Year: 1943
Subject: Philippines—History—Japanese occupation, 1942-1945
Rights
Abstract: The address was given on the forry-fifth anniversary of American occupation of the Philippines. In his broadcast, President Roosevelt emphasized the fact that our country won its undisputable right to freedom and its place among the free nations of the world during the heroic stand at Bataan and Corregidor.
Fulltext: Volume Ill, Number 6 PUBLISHED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES 1617 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, N. W., WASHINGTON 6, D. C. August 31, 1943 ROOSEVELT, QUEZON BROADCAST TO THE PHILIPPINES PRO~HSE OF EARLY LIBERATION FROM THE ENEMY A DDRESSES by President Roosevelt and President Quezon were broadcast to the Philippines by shortwave. President Roosevelt said in his address. "I give the Filipino people my word that the Republic of the Philippines will be established the moment the power of our Japanese enemies is destroyed. The Congress of the United Stares has acted ro set up the independence of the Philippines. The time will come quickly when that goes into full effect. You will soon be redeemed from the Japanese yoke and you will be assisted in rhe full repair of the ravages caused by the war." The address was given on rhe forty-fifth anniversary of American occupation of rhe Philippines. In his broadcast, President Roosevelt emphasized the face char our country won irs undispurable right to freedom and its place among rhe free nations of the world during the heroic stand at Bataan and Corregidor. He said: 'When the Filipino people resisted the Japanese invaders with their very lives, rhey gave final proof char here was a narion fit co be respected as the equal to any on earth, nor in size or wealth, bur in rhe stout heart and national dignity which are rhe rrue measures of a people." In his address, the President also took occasion ro assail the "Made-in-Japan" brand of independence promised by Tojo. President Roosevelt warned rhe Filipinos "to stand firm against the false promises of rhe Japanese." The rext of the President's speech follows: ''TO THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES: "On December 28 1941 three weeks after the armies of die Japanese lau;ched their arcack on Philippine soil, I sent a proclamation co you, the gallant people of the Philippines. I said then: .. 'I give ro the people of the Philippines my solemn pledge that their freedom will be redeemed and their independence established and protected. The entire resources in men imd materials of the United Stares srand behind chat pledge.' ':We shall keep this promise just as we have kept every promise which America has made co the Filipino people. ''The story of the fighting on Bataan and Corregidorand indeed everywhere in the Philippines-wi)l be remembered so long as men continue to respect br.1very and devotion, and determination. \'V'hen the Filipino people re· sisred the Japanese invaders with their very lives. they gave final proof that here was a nation fir ro be respected as the equal ro any on earrh. nor in size or "-calrh, but in the stout heart and national dignity which arc the true measures of a people. "Thar is why the United Stares, in practice. rcg'fds your lawful government as having the same status as the governments of other independent nations. Thar is why I have looked upon President Quezon and Vice-President Osmeiia, not only as old friends, bur also as trusted collaborators in our united task of destroying our common enemies in the east as well as in the wesc. '"THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT is a signatory of the declaration by the United Nations, along with thirty-one other nations. President Quezon and Vice-President Osmena attend the meetings of the Pacific War Council, where the war in the Pacific is charted and planned. Your government has participated fully and equally in the United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture, and a Philippine representative is a member of the Interim Commission created by that Conference. And, of course, the Philippine government will have its rightful place in the conference which will follow the defeat of Japan. 'These are the attributes of complete and respected nationhood for the Philippines, not a promise but a fact. "As President Quezon himself has told you, 'The only thing lacking is the formal establishment of the Philippine Republic.' These words of your President were uttered to you with my prior knowledge and approval. I now repeat them to you myself. I give the Filipino people my word that the Republic of the Philippines will be established the moment the power of our Japanese enemies is destroyed. The Congress of the United States has acted tn sec up the independence of the Philippines. The time will come quickly when that goes into full effect. You will soon be redeemed from the Japanese yoke and you will be assisted in the full repair of the ravages caused by the war. "We shall fight with ever-increasing strength and vigor until that end is achieved. Already Japan is tasting defeat in the islands of the southwest Pacific. Bur that is only the beginning. President Quezon Approves Cooperative Plan IN BEHALF of che Philippine Government, President Manuel L Quezon has given his approval in principle co a plan laid before him for a more active and effective participation of Filipinos in che United Scares and Hawaii in che pose-war recooscruccion of rhe Philippines. The plan, sponsored by Mr. Manuel Adeva, Nationals Division Assiscanc co che Philippine Resident Commissioner, was warmly received and unanimously approved by che delegaces attending rhe Fifth Annual Convention of che Filipino lnter-Communicy Organization of che Western Scates, which was held in Stockton, California, from July '"I call upon you, che heroic people of che Philippines, ro scaod furn in your faich-to stand firm against the false promises of che Japanese, jusc as your fighting men and our fighting men scood firm together against their barbaric attacks. "The great day of your liberation will come, as surely as there is a God in heaven. "The Uniced Scates and che Philippines have learned che principles of honest cooperation, of mutual respect, in peace and in war. "For chose principles we have foughc---and by those principles we shall live." President Quezon assured our countrymen in che lslanJs chac they "will soon learn of heavy action in che Pacific theacer---accion which will mark che beginning of che defeat of Japan." He urged chem co "take courage" and to bear in mind that "Japan is not invincible." His address, delivered on Augusc 19, his 65th birthday, follows in full: "MY BELOVED COUNTRYMEN: "For che second time since the Japanese invasion of our Islands, I observe my birthday anniversary far away from you. Today, even more than any other day, I wish chac I could be with you co share your hardships and your tribulations. But even while on Corregidor I had co make the hard decision tliat I knew would keep me away from the Motherland until I could return with the forces of liberation and independence. The months have been long since the day of my departure but, as they have passed, it has become more and more dear chat che time of redemption is noc far off. ''Today every effort is being made by Japan to convince you chat she will grant you independence. Perhaps she will. Perhaps, as she has declared Burma independent, she will declare the Philippines independent coo. ''Ta those of you who, in good faith, may take such independence seriously if it is granted, I offer a reminder of the fate of the. people of Korea and of Manchuria and the ocher occupied provinces of China. They know full well how unreal chat independence is and how Jacking in liberty. ''To those of you who may believe that Japan is invincible, I say, rake courage. Japan is nor invincible. The rruth is that she is on rhe decline. Monrh after mooch, her 2 lsc co July 4ch. The plan was also presented after the convention co che Filipinos in Vallejo, Fresno, Reedley, and Oxnard where it was likewise enthusiastically approved. According co this plan, the Philippine Government in Washington will receive for safekeeping United States \Var Bonds owned by Filipinos who voluntarily agree to deposit these with the Philippine government for the duration. Cash deposits will be converted into U. S. War Bonds in the name of the depositor. These bonds may not ( Co11ti1111ed 011 the next pr1ge) troops are meeting defeats on the battlefields of the South Pacific. Her fleet is being decimated. "The military picture today is most encouraging. On the Russian front the German allies of Japan have suffered a series of defeats from which they cannot recover. In Southern Europe the indomitable troops of the United States, Canada and Great Britain have occupied mosc <Jf Sicily, and Italy lies faltering at their feet. The Italian leader who not so long ago was boasting of the invincibility of his Fascist regime has resigned, and his party is crumbling under the wrath of his own people. Italy is no longer of any consequence in this war. "Closer to our own land, the brave men under GenerJI MacArthur are continuing their offensive against the Japa· nese. The strategically important air base of Munda has fallen into our hands. More victories are planned, and I can assure you that you will soon learn of heavy action in the Pacific theatre-action which will mark che beginning of rhe defeat of Japan. "The President of rhe United States himself, in his broadcast co you on Occupation Day, che 13ch of this month, said: 'The great day of your liberation will come as surely as rhere is a God in Heaven.' President Roosevelr makes no promises lightly. He spoke with che power and might of rhe strongest nation on earth standing behind every word he said. "The President also renewed his pledge made on December 28, 1941, that the freedom of the Philippines will be redeemed and their independence established and protected. And he confirmed whac I reported to you on the occasion of the fuse anniversary of my departure from Corregidor, namely, chat rhe United Scaces, in practice, regards the Government of the Philippines as having the same sratus as rhe governments of other independent nations, and chr,c the only thing lacking is the formal establishment of che Philippine Republic. He assured us tlm chis will be done rhe moment rhe power of Japan is destroyed, and char we will be assisted in the full repair of rhe ravages caused by the war. "The speech of President Roosevelt is che best gift char you and I can receive on chis anniversary of my birthday, and my last word co you today is co keep your faith in President Roosevelr and in the American people. "God bless you all." PHILIPPINBS