“Mr. President: With the deepest sense of loyalty and confidence in the American people, the Philippine Legislature has decided to send the present Parliamentary Mission to the United States. The Mission brings a message of good-will and friendship from the Filipino people to the people of the United States, and is charged to resume the negotiations for the independence of the Philippines begun by the first Mission sent in 1919.

MCKINLEY AND ROOT’S DEFINITION OF STABLE GOVERNMENT

“There are, in President McKinley’s estimate, two main elements in a stable government: First, ability to maintain order and insure peace and tranquility, and the security of citizens; second, ability to observe international obligations. To those two elements, Mr. Root in his instruction for the Cuban people, added the following: It must rest upon the peaceful suffrages of the people and must contain constitutional limitations to protect the people from the arbitrary actions of the Government. All these elements are to be found in the Philippines today.

PRESENT PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT SATISFIES ALL CONDITIONS

“It is admitted by the Wood-Forbes Mission that order has been properly maintained and that our Insular police or constabulary, “has proved itself to be dependable and thoroughly efficient. * * * They are naturally an orderly people.”

“The Filipino people are by nature and tradition hospitable and courteous to foreigners. There has been no anti-foreign agitation or outbreak. The business of foreigners has been amply protected and will continue to be so protected under an independent Philippines. During the short-lived Philippine Republic prisoners of war were treated according to the law of nations, and there was security for foreigners.

ORDERLY ELECTIONS

“The Insular, provincial, and municipal governments of the Philippines rest on the free and peaceful suffrage of the people. The people elect members of the Insular legislature, provincial governors, members of the provincial boards, municipal presidents, and members of the municipal councils. Interest in the elections is widespread and election day passes without any serious disturbances. There was a general, quiet acceptance by the minority of the results of the popular vote. * * *

CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES

“The structure and workings of our government also conform to the standard defined by Mr. Root in that it is “subject to the limitations and safeguards which the experience of a constitutional government has shown to be necessary to the preservation of individual rights.” The Filipino people fought for such constitutional safeguards during the Spanish régime. A modern bill of rights was inserted in the Constitution of the Philippine Republic. Our present constitutional limitations and safeguards have been in operation since 1900 when President McKinley in his instructions to the second Philippine Commission set down as inviolable rules the fundamental provisions of the American Bill of Rights. These provisions with slight modification were later included in the Organic Act of 1902, and again set forth in the Jones Law of 1916. For more than twenty years, therefore, the Philippine Government has been subject to constitutional practices. They are imbedded in the political life of the people, and no matter what political change may occur in the Philippines they will find no material alteration. An impartial judiciary is there to enforce them.

COMPETENT JUDICIARY

“The Supreme Court has the respect and confidence of the Filipino people. The courts of First Instance, mostly presided over by Filipinos ever since 1914, have maintained a standard which, in general, compares favorably with the state courts of the Union. From August 31, 1912, to September 1, 1913, during the last two years of Governor Forbes’ administration, only 25.1 per cent of the decisions appealed from these courts were reversed by the Supreme Court. From March 3, 1919, to March 4, 1921, another period of two years with Filipinos in control, the percentage of reversals decreased to 20.8 per cent. The number of cases disposed of by the Courts of First Instance for the eight years (1906 to 1913, inclusive) was as many as 82,528. The total number of cases disposed of for the same length of time, with Filipinos in greater control (1914 to 1921, inclusive), was 117,357 or an increase of 34,829, or 42 per cent.

GENERAL PROGRESS

“Philippine autonomy has also increased the agencies of social and political progress, such as schools, roads, public buildings, hospitals, etc. In 1913, when the Filipino people had even less share in the government than they have now, there were enrolled in public schools 440,050 pupils, in 1921 there were nearly a million (943,422). In 1913, there were only 2,934 public schools; in 1920 there were 5,944. In 1913, there were 2,171 kilometers of first-class roads in operation, in 1921 the figure was 4,698.8 in addition to about 5,000 kilometers of second-class roads. In 1913, there were no dispensaries where the poor could be given medical treatment; in 1921, there were over 800. In 1913 the appropriation for medical aid to the poor was ₱1,548,371.25; in 1921 the sum was ₱3,153,828.00.

“Social and economic progress has also been tremendous during this period. In 1913 there were hardly a dozen women’s clubs, in 1921 there were 342 in active work. In 1913, the volume of Philippine commerce was only ₱202,171,484, in 1920 it swelled to ₱601,124,276. The cultivated area in 1913 was 2,361,483 hectares as compared with 3,276,942 hectares in 1920, or 38.7 per cent increase. The present conditions in the Philippines compare favorably with those existing in many nations whose right to national sovereignty is not in the least questioned.

THE FAVORABLE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION

“Three years ago the impression of the members of the first Philippine Mission was that the main objection in the minds of many Americans to the immediate independence of the Philippines was the danger of foreign aggression. While this is entirely outside of the question as to whether we have complied with the requirements of the Jones Law, it may not be amiss to call the attention of those Americans to the great change in international affairs which has taken place since the visit of the last Mission.

THE WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

“Wholesome relationship has especially been established in the Pacific area. The recent Washington Conference has cleared away many doubts and misgivings.

“In the words of the President of the United States that conference was called ‘to provide some means whereby just, thoughtful, righteous peoples, who are not seeking to seize something which does not belong to them can live peaceably together and eliminate cause of conflict.’”

IRELAND, EGYPT, AND INDIA

“To the favorable international atmosphere may be added the fact that the first of colonial powers is already reversing her former policies. She has granted recognition of freedom and equality to peoples hitherto held as subjects and vassals. Egypt has regained her independence. The Irish people have been asked to enter into an agreement with England, looking to the establishment of a free state. Liberal institutions are now being established in India.

TRIUMPH OF AMERICAN IDEALS

“We see in all these events the gradual triumph of American ideals, especially of that fundamental American principle that declares that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.

“Hence we come to America in the full expectation that the United States can do no less than other nations have done to their dependencies; that she cannot now refrain from practicing those principles which were initiated by her and followed by her sister nations; that she cannot now refuse specific realization of those purposes and ideals, which found eloquent expression in her spokesmen both in times of war and in times of peaceful reconstruction; and that she will make the Filipino people a determining factor in the relationship that should exist between the United States and the only unincorporated and subject country now under the American flag.

MISSION HAS FULL POWERS

“We, therefore, submit our case, with faith and confidence, frankly and without evasion. It is the case of the Filipino people whom in fact and in law we represent, for certainly under the present circumstances no other agency can speak or act with as much authority on what the Filipino people want or on Philippine conditions in general, as their duly accredited representatives. That is the very essence of representative government.”

President Harding replied after due deliberation, stating that he was not yet ready to recommend the concession of independence to Congress, but assured the members of the Mission and, thru them, the Filipino people, that there would be no backward step taken during his administration, and that the autonomy now enjoyed by the Filipinos would remain unimpaired.

Petition for a constitutional convention.—The second Mission, failing in its object like the first, the Philippine Legislature at its next session in 1922, set about to devise other means whereby action on the question of independence could be hastened. After days of stirring debate, it was decided to ask Congress for permission to call a Constitutional Convention to draft a Constitution for a Philippine Republic, and the following resolution was passed:

“Whereas, the people and government of the United States have solemnly promised to grant independence as soon as a stable government can be established in the Philippines; and

“Whereas, a stable government now exists and is now in operation with the necessary guarantees that insure success, permanency, and security; and

“Whereas, preparation and approval by legitimate representatives of the Filipino people of a political constitution for the Philippines is, in the sense of the legislature, a proper and efficacious step for the securing of Philippine independence; therefore, be it

“Resolved, by the Philippine Senate, with the concurrence of the House of Representatives, that the United States Congress be asked, as it is hereby asked, to authorize the Philippine Legislature to make arrangements for the holding of a general election for the selection of delegates to a constitutional assembly which shall have the duty of preparing, discussing, and adopting a political constitution for an independent Philippine Republic; of determining, with the government of the United States, what kind of relationship, if any, should exist between said government of the United States and the Philippines; and finally of prescribing the election by the people of the Philippines of officials that shall exercise the authority and functions prescribed by the constitution to be adopted and to whom the present government of the Philippines shall be transferred as soon as they have legally assumed their posts.”

This resolution is now before the Congress of the United States, awaiting action by that body.

XV. Appendices

WHERE TO GO IN MANILA

LIST OF HOTELS

There is generally a hotel in the principal towns and cities, conducted on the American plan.