Philippines news from Tokyo

Title

Language

English

Year

1943

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

of the Philippines. The records in the C . . . Leg~ Division show that, aside from passpo~~:~:1=i~ s:auo~ cases, this office has extended legal sen•ice to Filipm?~ m matters involving claims and compensations. disposmon of estates, reentry into the United States, filing o_f patents, veterans' pensions, imprisonment and deportauon. The Commissioner became deeply interested in the unfortunate cases of Filipinos caught in war-torn Europe. ~n a letter to the Pre_si~enr of the Philippines, dated April -8, l~?l, the ~omm1ss10ner urged the Philippine Government co provide means for the repatriation of its citizens · · · caught in war-stricken areas through no fault of their ?,w~." The Comm~ssioner reported that Filipinos had been Stripped of their personal goods" and were "desti~te:" _The Jette~ was prompted by the case of a Filipino v10hmst and his wife, who were stranded in Belgium and later in Lisbon, and finally admitted into the United States through the help of the Resident Commissioner's office. There was the case of six Filipino seamen detained at Niagara Falls for months. The Resident Commissioner intervened and these men were later released on the responsibility assumed by his office. Now they are serving as crew members of the Bataan, formerly the Limbas, Commissioner Elizalde's yacht, which was bought by the Philippine Government and offered to the United States Coast Guard service. Filipinos in Alaska engaged in fishing, hunting and trapping were regarded as aliens, and consequently, denied privileges accorded citizens of the United States. This condition persisted until their citizenship status was clari-. lied. On April 6, 1940, a statement was secured from the solicitor of the Department of the Interior to the effect chat citizens of the Philippine Commonwealth could not be prohibited from fishing in Alaskan waters. First Filipino Infantry Among the notable accomplishments of the Resident Commissioner's office is in connection with the participation of Filipinos in the armed forces of the United States. The law was changed to allow Filipinos to be commissioned in the United States Army, to waive the IO-year United States citizenship requirement for appointment as aviation cadet with respect to Philippine citizens, and to admit Filipinos as officers in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. The distinctive unit in the United States Army, known as the First Filipino Infantry, was organized after representations had been made by the Resident Commissioner to the proper authorities. Many patriotic Filipinos had informed the Commissioner of their desire to fight for the recovery of the Philippines. On February 19, 1942, Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson, wrote the Resident Commissioner that the First Filipino Battalion would be formed "in recognition of the intense loyalty and patriotism of those Filipinos who are now residing in the United States." He said also that it would provide "for them a means of serving the armed forces of the United States, and the eventual opportunity of fighting on the soil of their homeland." Philippine News From Tokyo The following news items were picked from Japanese shortwave broadcasts. Their publication in PHILIPPINES does not imply attthenticity. Readers may well remember that Axis broadcasts are mainly for propaganda purposes. [President Quezon's statement that Filipinos are continuing the fight in the Philippines relentlessly and with undiminished valor is borne out by Japanese admissions that all is not well in the country.] "Bt1ndits." Manila, January 8.-Deparrment Chief Nagahama, of the Philippine Gendarmerie, said in connection with the surrender of bandits: "The bandits have been opposing our forces with a thought that as Jong as they are going to be killed in the end they may as well resist tn the very end. A part of those who surrendered to our forces have already been released, and they are put into service so that they will persuade the remaining bandits in the hills to surrender to our forces. As they come to understand the a~irude of the Imperial forces they surrender in increasing numbers." Manila, January 10.-Japane~ forces. in the Philippines, as the result of January operanons aga~nst remnant forces opposing Japanese occupation, have killed 808, captured 844 and received the surrender of 4,494. Booty taken from MARCH 15, 1943 the lighting Filipinos is listed as four hand grenades, nine light machine guns, 2,191 rifles, 87 rounds of ammunition and 38 cars. [Tokyo knows what grim determination lies behind Gen. MacArthur's words, "I shall return.'' All precautions are being raken against such a return trip. Manila, beneath the surface, is jittery.] Japanese Bene-volence. Manila, January 29.-Many Filipinos are in mountain fastnesses or thorny jungles of Mariveles, Cebu and Negros, making heavy sacrifices to the cause which they believe is that of freedom. It is a tragic paradox indeed. It is a paradox of tragedy of the Filipino people that but for these people the Philippines would already be independent. It is tragic irony that they light for slavery only. But reality is within their grasp. Tojo has reaffirmed his promise of independence and asks only that Filipinos cooperate. Japan has lived up to her promises which were made with one condition only, that Filipinos collaborate with the Japanese. The question is left squarely up to the Filipinos themselves. If they desire complete indep~ndence, they need only to cooperate. [Filipinos know what kind of independence the Japanese have granted Koreans, Manchurians and others.] 7

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