Commonwealth government officials broadcast to the Philippines

Title

Language

English

Source

Philippines 3 (3) May 6, 1943

Year

1943

Subject

Philippines--Politics and government

Philippines--History

Philippines—History—Japanese occupation, 1942-1945

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Volume Ill, Number 3 PUBLISHED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES 1617 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, N. W., WASHINGTON, D. C. May 6, 1943 Connuonwealth Government Oflicials Broadcast to the Philippines J\'} ANUEL L. QUEZON inaugurated early last month a series oi official bro~dcasts beamed t0 the Philippines through the radio faciliries of the Office of \Var Information, and intended to gi,·e a factual report of the activities of the governmenr in exile now in \Vashingron, ro the people of the Philippines. He advised our counrrymen co maintain their faith in the Unired States and co ignore the Japanese propaganda that Philippine independence can ever come from Japan. "Not many days ago I spoke ro you about how the Japanese invader is trying by every possible device to win your goodwill and cooperation, and to destroy your faith in America," said the President. "He tells you that America has completely neglecred you, and that your freedom and independence can only come from Japan. Don"t believe this. A nation where freedom of speech and of the press is a thing unknown, a nation where everything is state-controlled, from raw materials to political ideas and idealssuch a nation can not be expected to give freedom co the peoples it has conquered.'" President Quewn pointed out that for the last eight months the Japanese had not scored a single viccory but that, on the contrary, they had suffered serious defeats in many places in the Pacific. "'Japan will never cell you about her defeats," said President Quezon. "'Japan does not want you co know what the Government of the United States and your own Philippine Government are doing to hasten the liberation of our country." The President assured his people that the day of Philippine liberation would surely come. "We must remember that, in this grim fight for freedom, we are not alone,"' he continued. "We roust remember that every victory our allies win in Russia, in Africa or anywhere in the Pacific brings us closer and closer to freedom and victory." The President concluded: "All I ask of you is that you have faith in America, that you have faith in the great destiny of our country, and that you be true to the soldiers who died so gallantly for our country's freedom. Mga Kababayan: Araw aJ gabi hindi ko kayo linilimm." SEJH;Jo OSJ\1ENr\. \'1tc President of the Philippines. outlined rlucc m.1in :1d1icvcments of the Commonwe,1lrh Covc:rnmcm 111 his bro.LUC!>[ ro th<: Philippines. He pointed out: (I) The Philippines is now a nKmbcr of the United N,uions, resulting in the virtu.1! recognition of the Commonwealth ;1s an independent nation. ( 2) The Philippines has gained a seat in the Pacific War Council. a body working to hasten Japanese defeat. ( 3) President Roosevelt and President Quezon have agreed co set up a joint commission to study problems of Philippine economic reconstruction, financial rehabilitation ·and future security. "Rest assured, then, my beloved countrymen, that your own Government-in-Exile and the United States Government are straining every effort not only to hasten the day of redemption and freedom, but also co lay the solid foundation of economic stability and security for the future Philippine Republic-a Republic chat will, with a United Nations victory, take its place among the free nations of the earth," the Vice-President concluded. JOAQUIN M. ELIZALDE, Philippine Resident Commissioner, gave the Filipino people a detailed report of the war activities of Filipinos in the United States. He mentioned the First Filipino Infantry now in uaioing in California; the Filipinos serving in the United States Navy, the Coast Guard, Army transports aod merchant marine; Filipino workers in defense industries and on farms, and the Filipinos in all walks of life buying war bonds regularly. · Swruning up the contributions of Filipinos on all fronts, the Commissioner said, "Service, money, life--these are the. contributions of the Filipinos in the United States to the successful prosecution of this war. It's their way of fullilling President Quezon's pledge that 'We stand with the United States in life and in death.' " MAT. GEX. BASlLIO T. \':\LDES. Chief of Src1ff of che Philippine Army. infor~ed rhe Filipino people tlm Americ,1 has seize.:l rhe offensi,·e iniciarive in rhe Sonrhwest Pacific. Disclaiming anr :mempr co r,1ise false hopes. he answered the question, "Ho~· soon will the Japanese be dri,·en out oi the Philippines?"· in the lighc of developments in the first fourteen months of ~rnr. "There is no doubt that America has begun the job of bearing Japan," he said. '"Ir will take a long rime yet of bitter fighting to bring her co her knees. Bue whether it rakes months or years, one thing is certain-the job is going co be done, and done uncompromisingly." The General concluded with President Ro11s~,·dc"s address to the American people in which che President declared: "\\7e do not expecc co spend che rime 11 would cake co bring Japan to final defeat by inching our way forward from island to island across rhe ,·asc expanse of the Pacific. Great and decisive actions against the Japanese will be taken in the skies of China-and in chc skies o\·er Japan itself. The discussions at Casablanca ha,·c been continued in Chungking with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek by General Arnold and ha\·e resulted in definite plans ior offensive operations. There are many roads which lead righc w Tokyo. And we're nor going tO neglect any of chem." Quezon Pleacls for Pacific Aid E XPRESSlNG grave concern o\·er recent reports of Japanese naval concentration in the island arc north of Auscrnlia and a new Japanese mass air offensi\•e on allied Southwest Pacific bases, Presidem Manuel L. Quezon issued this statement on April 15: '"The whole world knows that my heart is in the Philip· pines; and I cannot forget that the fate of the Filipino people, who are now under the iron heel of a ruthless enemy, is bound up with the course of rhe war in the Pacific. "Japan must nor be allowed co make further gains. She must not be granted time co devote all her energies to consolidating her position and mastering the immense natural resources now available to her-resources even greater chan those available to Hider. To give Japan the chance ro do these things would mean very serious risks for rhe United Nations and would raise tremendously the price of her ultimate defeat in lives and in sacrifices. "I hope, therefore, that steps will be taken--and taken immediately-to strengthen our arms in the Pacific, at least enough to stop Japan in her tracks. "It is true that, in waging this global war, many coldblooded decisions must be made. There have been, and no doubt will continue to be, times when whole battlefronts and even whole nations will be considered temporarily expendable in order to win the final victory. But it is impossible for me to conceive that the entire Far East is expendable." 2 J All'.IE HER.i"\IANDEZ. i\udit0r-(jencr.il of the Philip· pines, assured rhe Filipino people char che Commonwealth (~m·ernmcnt will be as financially sound at che end of the war as ir was before the Japanese im·as1on of rhe Philip· pines. The Auditor-General reported that practically all the funds of d1e Philippine Government were saved from Jap;111ese hands and that the inreresr accruing co Go"ernmenr bends and funds on deposit in the United Scares is sufficient co meet rhe much-reduced expenses of running the Gov· ernment. the payment of interest on Government bond issues, and rhe p<tyment of allowances co Government pensionados and to young Filipino srnd~ncs scr.rnded in the United Scares. Mr. Hernandez stated char rhe Commonwealth Go\'crnment is keeping its expenses within ics limited income. "\Ve are sa,·ing every peso we can for chc d.iy of viuory,"' he said. "And when that day comes. as come ic muse, your Government will be financially pre-pared for the gigantic ra~k of our country's reconstruction.'' This he believed possible through cone inucd co11p(·r.11ion between the United Scates and the Philippines. He con· eluded, "'With the economic assistance of the United Stares, we can face rhe future with confidence. \X'irh Cod's help. we can look forward co a greater. stronger. more prosperous Philippines." Tribute to Wainwright On April 19 President Quezon paid tribute to the gallant defender of Bataan and Corregidor, Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright, on the occasion of the President's participation in rhc state ceremonies honoring General Wainwright and the heroes of Bataan and Corregidor, at Hart· ford, Connecticut. He reminded his audience that in thus rendering due honor to General Wainwright, who was the son of the State, they should remember that they owed him more than a citation. "You owe him," President Quezon emphasized, "the pledge that he will soon be freed from the prison camp; that the flag of freedom will again fly over Corregidor, and chat the Filipino people will be liberated from the invader, governing themselves under the independent Republic they will establish after the enemy is driven out." The full text of the President's address follows: "I have come ro share with you the sentiments that in· spire chis official recognition, by rhe General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, of the gallantry and heroism of chat great soldier, Lieutenant General Jonathan M. Wain· wright, and his American and Filipino officers and men. "The memory of those desperate days of fighting in the Philippines is always with me, and my heart is pierced by chat memory. I think of those fighting men-yours and PHILIPPINES

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