Philippines given recognition as independent nation

Media

Part of Philippines

Title: Philippines given recognition as independent nation
Language: English
Source: Philippines 3 (2) April 9, 1943
Year: 1943
Subject: Philippines--History--1898-1946; Quezon, Manuel Luis, 1878-1944. Speeches
Rights
Abstract: President Quezon delivered his speech stating the independence given to the Philippines by the American government in February 20, 1943. This independence was given by President Roosevelt of the United States of America.
Fulltext: th:i.n 25 \\"ords at the nearest local ch;iptcr of the American Red Cross. The message. written on a stand:1rd ci\·ili.10 message form, along with others. will be sent t0 the Red Cross Headqu:iners in Washingron, which in cum trans· mits it to the International Red Cross at Gene\',l, where arrangements are beins made "·irh the .J.1panese Gm·ernmenr ro allow these messages co be delivered ro che addressees now li\'ing in the Philippines. Ir is cxpened 1h;1t after successful contact has been m'1de with peopk in the Philippines. mess.-iges from them will find their w.1y e"entu:tllr to the l'nited Srates. There ha\•e been few cases of personal mes~.1i:es by cable from the Philippines re;1ching the Unired Swes. So far. ho"·"'·er, there are no records in the American Red Cross Headquarters in \\"ashingron showing that any of the mess:iges from rhis count!')" have reached rheir desrin;ition in the Philippines. In addition t0 ~5-word messages which '""' transshipped to the Philippines. cables m:iy be sent co the Philip· pines through Gene,·n by wa}' of Tokyo. Although the American Red Cross does not guaranree deli,·err of these cables. the International Red Cross is making e"ery posPHILIPPINES GIVEN RECOGNITION AS INDEPENDENT NATION "Presidem Roosevelt has, in effect, already gil'en the Philippines recognition as an independe111 n111io11." This definition of the present political stat11s of tbe Philipphle1 is contained in a radio 1peech delivered by President Qt1ezon la~I Febmary 20. The speech is destined to be one of the mo1t importalll doett· sibk effort to get c.ich one through w ch<: inJi,·idu3l addressed. Ch.ugcs for chis sped.ii S<.'rvi<c \'Jry in a{cordance with existing rates for such (.tbles. Another question freq\lently asked by Filipinos in this country concerns their anxiety 1<1 smd money to relatives in rhe Philiprint'S for the prt:sc-m cherc is no way by "'hich money may b1.' 5<"m co the Philippines. Chances for sudt ;111 arr.1n!'emenr 1.!urin~ the w.1r .ue slam. It is known th.at hl'.1dq11.u1ers of some rl'l1.!!1ous organiz.1ti<>nS in rhe Philippm1.·s h.n·e n·1.ci\'C:d infnrm.11ion ahour mis;i1>n"rics in 1.<'rt.1111 ~cu'' >ll' 11f rht· Philippines. The same is trut· of l""''' olli<C'' 111 u>mrncr1.1.il h111i-t·s c·n.i:.i.ged i1~ busint."SS in tht' Phil1ppi11'·' ·'' 1h1.· nt11l:>rc-.rk oi the w.u. l'o d.Hc· thNt• is fl<> known li'I nt '"'"·•hit' .ind pr1;•>nC'f' oi the Philipp111t· Anny. wh1d1 «•tnr"''"' riK hulk ,.f rht· heroic JefcnJN~ of lht" l'h1lippint·'· :\ '''' .. t <."u.il11t·' 111 rhc Philippine So.:<>111' ".1\'.1il.1hk .11 rhc· \\'_,, lkp.Htmenr. Me.rnwhilc ir ;1ppt.1rs hC''t 1•1 w.111 .ind kt:<'p in dose much with thl' ln-.il dupt<·r 11( rht· Amcric.111 R1:1I Cm<< for the l~tesr 1k\'dnprn1:nt' in rlw n1.·.!!nt1.ttiom to reach people in the Ph1hppHK' by k·t11:r .. r lw <.thk. invasum of mir <<>umry hy J.1p.111. tht· J.1p.mi:s<· h.we direned their prop;1g;1nda •II t:rnl\'incin~ y<>u rh.H J.ipan is our friend and liberator. Your answ(;r, our .1nswcr. !us been to light them to rhe birrer end. The flower of our youth died side by side wait their Amerk.tn wmr.1dcs in Jefonse of our country, om liberties •. tnd the Americ1n and Philippine flags. The surrender 111entJ in 1he political histor')' of the country not only beca11re ii ir the {trst official acco11m of the developments that hat1e Jed to n•hat is tantamount to recognition of the Commonuiealth 111 a sovereign sl11te b11t also bec111ue it tu111 made with the knowledge 1111d apFull text of the r"dio mes· sflge delivered by President Jltmuel L. Quezon to the peo· JJle of the Phili1111ine11 on Febr11t1ry 20, 194.,. of Batlan and CorregiJ,ir did not end that epic struR1de. E\'Cn the broadcasts from Tokio tlut now .ind then tell of rhe stern and uucl measures taken by the Japanese Army in the Philippines against Filipinos, reveal that our people have not accepted defeat, and as best they crn. they are still lighting the invaders ac whatever cost. prot1al of the Pre1ident of the United States. " .. - by ottr lo')'alty to the American flag, we won a battle greater than we lost." With these word1, President Qnezo1: highlights the hi11ory of Philippine-Americ11n relations from the establishment of civil government to the Battle of the Philippine1. The meuage wa1 broadca1t by shortwtJVe to the Philippines and wa1 intended prima1ily to reach the Filipinos ruhom Premier Tojo is now trying to ruin over ruith promises of "independence." BecatJJe of ils significance, however, it w111 also rele111ed for publication in the United StaJes by the Office of Wdr Information. The ftdl text 1Jf the speech follows: MY BELOVED COUNTRYMEN: Om y('jlr ago tOday l began my long odyssey which srarted from Corregidor and ended in this great capital of the United Staces. It is now my duty. ro report to you on what we have accomplished during this year. I do not have ro tell you that from the first day of the .APRll. 9, 1943 BUT Japan is benr upon winning your good will by every possible dcvke-if she can. Knowing that independence is the cause for which our forefathers fought and died; knowing, too, that we have stood by America because she has made good her pledge to make our people free and independent, Japanese propaganda has been insistently telling you that you muse not have faith in Amer· ica, and that the independence of our country will only come from Japan. In line with this policy of deceit, Premier Tojo, at the last session of the Imperial Diet, has again reiterated his statement made lasr year that Japan is ready to grant independence co the Philippines. Assuming that tomorrow Japan was to declare the Philippines an independent na· rion, what would that mean? It would merely mean that the Philippines would be another "Manchukuo"-a government without rights, without powers, without authority. A government charged only wirh the duty to obey the dictates of the Japanese rulers. After the uagic end of Kore:i's ind~~ndence. in utter disregard of :t solemn pledge to respect 1t, tt would be \\'Orse than folly to rely on any promise made by the J:tpanese ~1wemmenr_ Vis·:t·Yis Maachukuo and Ko~e.1. let us go m·cr our as· socfation with the United Sta1es: Co1NCIDE:.~T \\'ith the organiz:ttion of Ch·il Govern· menr in the Philippines in the e.1rlr years of the Ameri· can regime, the Filipino people enjoyed. for 1he first time in rheir history, freedom of speech. freedom of 1he press. freedom of worship. and all the orher freedoms guaron· teed in the Bill of Righrs. Neither the President ~or the Congress of the United Stares could Jepriw the Filipinos of these rights, for they "·ere under the protection of the Constitution of the United S1ates itself. With the help of the United States, we made s1eady progress in every field of human endeavor :tnd r:ipid advance in the practice of self-government. At last Americ.1 gaw! us complete auronomy on marters affecring our domestic affairs, preparatory to the establishment of the Philippine Republic ..-hich was set for the Fourth of July 1946. We "·ere a happy and prosperous people when Japan, without the slightest provoc:ition on our part. brought sufferings, death and havoc, and destroyed eve!}' vestige of freedom in our country. Bu-r our sacrifices ha,·e nor been in \'ain. By our ded· sion to fight by the side of the United Staces, hr our heroism, and by our loyalry to the American flag, we won :i battle greater than we lose. Our decision :ind our heroism ha,•e '\\•on for our people real freedom for all time. You know what President Roosevelt said in his procla· mation to the Filipino people on December 28, 1941. These were his words: "I give tO the people of the Philip· pines my solemn pledge that their freedom will be re· deemed and their independence established and protected. The entire resources in men and materials of the United Scares stand behind thar pledge!' Not only that. President Roosevelt has, in effect, alteady given the Philippines recognition as an independent nation. ON my arrival in Washington, he rendered me honors due only to the heads of independent governments. He met me at the railtoad station with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War and the Secretary of che Interior, mem· bers of the Supreme Courr and other high officials. Mrs. Quezon and I were his official guescs at the White House. He has recognized our right to take part in the Pacific War Council, with Great Britain, China, The Netherlands aod the self-governing Dominions of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The President of the United Scace& himself piesides over the Council table. In the name of the Philippines, I am a signatory to the Atlantic Charter. We are one of the United Nations. And wherher cbe war is over before or after July 4, 1946, the date fixed for the establishment of the Philippine Republic, I am certain that we shall have our own representation in the Peace Conference. 4 ) APAN now promises you independe11ce. That promise me;tns kss than no1hing. Our independence is nlready a realit}'. since the President of the Uni1ed Scates, by his several ofiicial aces cnumemccd above. has given recognirion co the Philippines as possessed of che artribuces of full nationhood. The only thing bcking is 1he formal establish· ment of the Philippine Republic This cannot happen until om country is liberated from the inv.1d11r-nnril you, my follow citizens. can exercise your full right co elect the offici,tls of the Government of the Rep11blic. On Januarr 6, 19-11, President Ronscvelc said: "In the foture days, which we set:k m make secure, we look forward to a wnrld fo11nded upon four esacnrial hu· man freedoms. ''The firsc is freedom of spec(h :ind 1:xpression-e,·ery· where in the world. 'The second is freedom of e\·crr person to wmship God in his own \\•ay-c\'crywherc in rht- world. 'The third is freedom from wJnt-whi(h. tr.msl.1tc-d imo world terms, me;ms crnnomic undcr~c.inding which will secure to every nation a he:1lrhy pe.1Cetimc life for i1s in· habicanr~vcrywherc in the world. "The fourth is frce..lom from fear-- which, 1ransbtcd in10 world terms. m~ans worldw idc rcdun ion of ;irmJmcms co such a point and in such a thorough f.1shion rhar no na· rion will be in a position w wmmic .lit au of physical aggression against any neighbor ;11\\"wherc in the world." THOSE are the Four Freedoms for which we fight. They will come after the viclO!}' of the United N.uions. \Vhen that glnrious day arrives, 1he Filipino people will enjoy che blessings of these four freedoms-freedom of speech, freedom of religion, fre~dom from wanr and freedom from fear. The first two need no elaboration. You have known and exercised them before this war began. Bur, in che past, the other two have only been the hope and che ambition of our people. Now we can look forward to these human rights with the assurance of their realization after the war. We shall secure for every Filipino the 53tisfaction of the basic human needs which are the rights of all men-food, doching, and shelter, and economic opporrunity. With the help of the United Scares, we shall rebuild our ravaged land, and make of ic a prosperous member of the family of free nations. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT and I have a!teady agreed rhat studies be made now for the economic rehabilita· tion of rhe Philippines, so rhat we shall be ready to proceed with che gigantic task of rebuilding our country as soon as the enemy is expelled. As for the fourth freedom-the freedom from fear of aggression-we have before us, not only che commitment in principle of the Uniced Nations, bur also the pledge of che Government of che United States, as given by President Roosevelt in his proclamation to rbe Filipino people. In furtherance of this pledge, President Roosevelt has au· PHJLIPPJNJ!S ~orizcd the Srate Departmenr ro discuss with me rhe question of our furure sccuriry and of the safeguarding forever o~ the .murual interests of the United States and the Philip· pines in the Pacific area. I GIVE you m}· solemn assurance that the Philippines is not being neglecrcd. The President. the Congress, the American people.>, are doing and will do everything in their po'lll•er to redeem you as soon as possible from the heel of the invader. I have been authorized by the Presidenc of the United States to tell mu that the text of this broadcasr has been submitted tO hitn, and that '"he is Ver}' glad tO authorize me to m:ike the statements concerning Unired States policy which are conrained in this broadcast." My beloved counuymen, you know rhat day and night Here and There PHILIPPINE goveromeor pensionados and fellows of the Universiry of the Philippines in the United States were among the first to follow the fight or work policy. Although they were sent to this count!)' by the Philippine Govern· ment to specialize in various technical and cultural fields. most of them V()luntarily gave up their scudies at the Out· break of the wat to engage in essential war work. Among those who are already in the armed forces of the United States are an expert on tariff and customs administration, an animal breeding specialist, an architect, two chemical engineers, a graduate in banking, an obstetrics and a can· cer specialist. Those who have taken up research work, directly related to the war, include a radio engineer, designers and 'eleccrical engineers in bomber planes and re· searchers on foods; one pensionado is a mathematics insuucror in an army school. A mining engineer graduate is now connected with the Federal Bureau of Mines in 11 technical capacity. An economics specialist is a Far Eastern expert in the Office of Strategic Services. Noc co be outdone, rhe women pensionados in rheir re· spective fields--chemisuy, nursing, and war information, are likewise engaged in the all-out effort to win the war and assure the peace. THE OFFICE of the Philippine Residenc Commissioner repons that to date there are 44 Filipino National Councils and Community Organizations, distributed as follows: California 16, Alaska 3, Washington 2, Arizona 2, Florida 1, Illinois I, Maryland 1, Massachusetts 1, Michigan 1, Missouri 1, New Jersey I, New York l, Pennsylvania 1, Wis· consin 1, District of Columbia I. These councils and community organizations are recognized by the Office of the Philippine Resident Commissioner and official contacts are made with chem on matters pertaining to rhe rights and interests of Filipino nationals in their respective communities. .APlllL 9, 1943 I c:tn only chink of you, of rhe day of your redemption anJ my return to our beauciful Islands. I would not be here, I woukl nor have left you for a moment, I would have been sh.iring with you your sufferings and your hardships if I did not feel that r could only be of service to you by my being free from the clutches of the enemy. Do NOT despair. for our liberauon is certam. Ir may take time, bur it will come. Mednwhile, <lon"r let the Japa· nese fool you. Use your wirs and bear him at his own i;;une. Above all, you must continue ro have faith in Amer· ila who has kept faith with every n~cion. and especially with us. Our bonds of friendship tempered m the heat of battle, will fast beyond the war and into the pc.1~e of freedom, general wcll-bemi; ,ind safory that will follow it. God bless you and keep you all. THE Philippine Center ;it l 1 l \X'c·st 7 2nJ Street, established as a mc:cting and rtucJtton plJu:: for Filipinos in the mctropolit,1n .m:;i .md F1lip10n, \'iSttH\!! New York. W.lS omci.111}" opcn,-J on M.trd1 5. The Center w.is neawJ w11h the t:.~•p<:r.1t11>n of the Government of the: Conunonwc.drh of till' Philippines. Major Bcnv,·nmu It Oi1io. ol 1he st.ti! 1Jf Prc:siJcm l\fanucl L. Quezon, h;1s been apputmeJ head of the (Cnte:r. Major Dino. a Philippine Army medKJl otli,er, .lCcompanied President Quezon on his epil' journl.'}' last rear from Corregidor to the Unit(.'d Scates \"i.l Austr>ilia. The Center provides without (harge an attractive, spaci· ous hall for meetings and social ;tffairs of the Filipino National Council, Filipino Womcn"s dub, the Filipino Com· munity Cencer, Filipino Association of Long Isl:ind, Filipino Nurses Associacion, Ftlipino·A11Jerican Citizenship Council, Lcgionarios dcl Trabnjo and several other Filipino social and civic organizations. It also furnishes writing desks and stationery. and parlor games for visitors. Thousands of Fili{)inos in the armed services of the United Scates are expecced co rake advantage of rhe facilities ar rbe Philippine Cencer. The Center plans co give free lectures regularly on the Philippines, to which the general publie; will be invited. * * * RECORDS in the Nationals Division, Office of the Philippine Resident Corrunissioner, sh()w that 7,790 Certificates of Identity have been issued to Filipinos as of March 22, 194 3. The Certi.fica tes sef\'es the purpose of establishing Philippine na.cionality in lieu of a birth certificate. Loss of certificate should be reported immediately to the Office of the Philippine Resident Commissioner. These can be replaced only by filing an affidavit stating when, where and how they were lost. * * * THE House of Representatives passed on March 1 a bill ··m revise the Alaska Grune Law," which would classify Filipinos as United Sraces citizens for the purpose of this law only, so that they could get licenses as tesidents of Alaska. (Comin11•J. on pog• 10)
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