We can not neglect, in considering the question of the maintenance of a government in the Philippine Islands, the financial condition of the people. A study of the situation must embrace, therefore, a first-hand examination of the financial condition of the Philippine Government and of the Filipino people-the present and prospective revenues of the Government and the extent to which these revenues are dependent on the present relation of the islands to the United States. Of even more importance than the economic position of the Government is that of the people. A careful study should be made of the effect on the people of treating their products in the American market as those of a foreign country, as well as, on the other hand, such disadvantages as may accrue to them as the result of the free entry of American goods in their markets. Passing now from the economic question, attention should be directed to the likelihood of the maintenance of a stable government in the Islands as this likelihood may be determined from evidence drawn from the operation of the existing government. It is unnecessary to review the steps in the development of the existing Government. It is sufficient to say that it is most liberal in its concession of powers to the Filipino people. The legislature to which is given general legislative powers is purely Filipino, both as to its elective members and as to those few appointive members designated by the Governor General to represent the interests of the non-Christian people of the islands. The judiciary, with the exception of the Supreme Court, is almost exclusively Filipino, the executive officials of the Government in the municipalities and provinces are exclusively Filipino, and in the central government are largely so, the exceptions being the Governor General and the Vice Governor. But few of the ministerial officers are now American, and of the supreme court the chief justice and three of the eight associate justices have generally been Filipinos. The Government thus constituted is the one to be studied as the basis of judgment. Of the first importance it should be determined whether or not this Government has contributed duly to the happiness, peace, and prosperity of the Filipino people, and the determination of this question must necessarily depend largely on the views of those people. It should be determined whether or not the Government is reasonably free from those underlying causes that result in the destruction of government. Is the government effectively administered; are the officials and employees reasonably faithful to the trust imposed upon them; is justice impartially administered; are the elections conducted honestly so that the public will receive expression in the selection of elective officers; are the results of the elections generally acquiesced in by defeated minorities are the civil service laws honestly administered; and are appointments to office and to employment under the Government made as a result of competency? The effect of extension of powers to Filipinos in their own Government should be carefully scrutinized, and it should be determined whether such extension results in a lowering of the standards of government and whether such lowering, if it exists, decreases with the experience of the Filipino so charged with responsibility, or if there is a steady relaxation of effort and a more marked deficiency as we recede from the previous standard. The result of Filipinization on the important services of education, health, public works, and agriculture should be noted and given due weight in a final determination of the problem submitted. In passing on the questions thus presented, it is necessary to avoid comparison with a standard of other countries and other climates and particularly with our own idea of perfection. It should be remembered that our obligations are to all of the people who inhabit the Philippine Islands, and in a particular manner, because of their relative helplessness, we are committed to look after the welfare of the backward people of the islandsChristian, Moro, and Pagan. The keeping of our faith to these people has been H. Doc. 325, 67-2 -2 committed to the present Philippine Government. How has this faith thus committed been kept, and what is the outlook for the future? The Filipino people have for ages, due to the fact that the sovereignty of the Philippine Islands rested first in Spain and then in the United States, been protected in the ownership of territory and potential wealth out of all proportion to that of their neighbors. It is important to determine whether reasonable plans exist for the utilization of these resources by the Filipino people in order that their unused land and resources may not continually be a source of temptation to their less fortunate but probably stronger neighbors, and whether on the withdrawal of a strong sovereignty from these islands these resources would remain exclusively available to the Filipino people. Certainly it would be a vain thing to turn the Philippine Islands over to the Filipino people without reasonable assurance that the resources of the islands would remain the heritage of the people of the islands. The pleasing of the Filipinos of this generation would be a minor satisfaction if it were believed that it would result in the bondage or destruction of the Filipino people for all time hereafter. Your selection by the President for this work is the best assurance of his desire that it should be impartially done, without prejudice, fear, or favor. Likewise it is an assurance that it will be undertaken and carried out with an appreciation and a delicate regard for the feelings of the Filipino people. Whether the result of your investigation may or may not be to the satisfaction of the majority of the Filipino people at this time, I am convinced that, undertaken in the spirit in which it is committed to you and in which you have undertaken it, it can not but be to the future satisfaction of the Filipinos and must, of necessity, result in their permanent well-being and progress. Very sincerely, Arrival. Personnel. Press correspondents. JOHN W. WEEKS, The special mission, as above constituted, arrived in Manila on May 4, 1921. Attached to and assisting the mission was a representative of the State Department, secretary of the legation in Peking, who had also served for some years in the embassy in Japan and is generally familiar with international affairs in the Orient; a staff officer of the admiral commanding the Asiatic Fleet who had served some years in the Orient; and Spanishspeaking officers of the Army experienced in Cuban, Philippine, and foreign affairs generally, three of whom had had prior and long service in the islands both in civil and military establishments, in executive and administrative work, and as members of legislative councils. Two of these officers had also accompanied the Harbord mission to the Near East. During the travels of the mission throughout the islands they were accompanied by an experienced correspondent of the Associated Press, a special correspondent of one of the leading American dailies committed to giving independence to the Philippine people; and, as the representative of the Filipino press, one of the editors of the leading Manila journal who, during the insurrection against Spain and the United States, had been an officer in Aguinaldo's army. The attached members of the mission and the corre spondents represented a wide variety of opinions. From the moment of its arrival in Manila, the mission received every assistance from the Acting Governor General, the commanding general, the admiral, and their staffs; also from Americans throughout the islands; and from the Philippine people and their political leaders generally, many of whom gave the benefit of advice and suggestions in the most cordial and friendly spirit. Their assistance has been coupled with a sincere and charming hospitality which continued to the last moment of the mission's stay. Manila with all tionalities. ited. During these four months in the islands the routine Conferences in of the mission consisted of periods of about a week in classes and na. Manila, during which conferences were held with officials: of the Central Government, with representative Americans, Filipinos, and foreigners of every walk of life. Investigations were undertaken looking to a thorough analysis of the Government and its activities, followed by periods of from two to four weeks of investigation in the Provinces. During these trips 48 of the 49 Provinces, Provinces visinto which the islands are divided were visited. The mission has aggregated 11 weeks of travel by sea, auto, horse, and rail, and has held conferences in 449 cities and towns. All parts of the archipelago were visited and, Four hundred your mission feels it has placed itself in intimate touch cities and towns with the great mass of the Philippine people-Christian, Moro, and pagan-and with practically all Americans and foreigners domiciled and doing business in the principal cities and towns of the islands. and forty-nine visited. difficult to get. Too often there has been a marked disinclination on Frank statement opposing the part of individuals, especially Filipinos not in sym-independence pathy with immediate or absolute independence, to state their opinion openly, for the reason that they feared loss of standing or persecution if they did so. Their fears were very genuine and, unhappily, there is evidence that their apprehensions were well grounded. ministrative in made. When practicable, important administrative investiga- Personal adtions were made, with the knowledge and assistance of vestigations the Acting Governor General and his assistants. The mission and its attached members, however, personally visited administrative and judicial offices, the courts (including justices of the peace), schools, hospitals, jails, and other public institutions throughout the islands and feel they have completed a thorough and careful survey of the Government, the people, and their institutions. As a result it has been able to form definite conclusions on the general subjects and upon the conduct of the Government. The date of the arrival of the mission at the various towns and cities was made known well in advance, in order that there might be ample time for the preparation Cordial reception. of petitions, memorials, and addresses. Almost without exception the officials and people of the regions visited paid great attention to the reception of the mission. The roads and streets were decorated with arches, generally bearing the word "Welcome," followed by a statement that the people desired their independence. Interest in independence. Speakers from younger generation. Philippines hitherto always The public assemblies to greet the mission and present addresses and memorials were usually of a size which indicated a keen interest in the question of independence. The people were attentive and quiet, but there was a lack, due in part to racial reserve, of that exuberant enthusiasm which so often marks the public discussion of questions of national import. The proportion of speakers representing business and agriculture was relatively small. The majority were from the younger generation. HISTORICAL SKETCH. In considering the question of granting independence dependent. to the Philippine Islands, it is of interest to note that they have always been a dependent group under the influence of a stronger power. It is appropriate to reJavanese Empire, View briefly their history. Previous to 1400 the islands had been subject to Hindu-Malayan empires in Sumatra, Indo-China, and Borneo; at that date they ceased to form an integral part of the Javanese Madjapahit Empire. Secession from 1400. Introduction of Mohammedanism. First Caucasians. Shortly after 1400 Mohammedanism was introduced, but politically the islands were subject to China during the reign of the ambitious Ming emperors. The first Europeans who visited the Philippines were Portuguese, about 1517, and Spaniards, in 1521. The century preceding the European discovery had been one of the most eventful periods in the history of the islands. In addition to the Chinese attempt at political as well as commercial domination, the Japanese entered the islands in the north and the Mohammedans of Brunei (Borneo) in the south. At the time the first permanent European per annum. Borneo. in the north of Luzon, from which they were driven by Japanese driven the Spaniards in 1582 with the conquest of their fortified from Luzon. trading stronghold in the Cagayan Valley. merce prior to 1600. ish colony. Ma Population of The chief cause of Japanese interest in the islands was Japanese comtheir search for rare pottery, gold, and pearls. The first permanent Spanish colony was founded in, Cebu first SpanCebu in 1565, and Manila was conquered in 1570. Span-nila taken. ish records state that in 1600 there were some 25,000 Mile in 1600. Chinese and 1,500 Japanese in Manila alone, but of these 2,300 Chinese were massacred in the year 1603 by the Spaniards, fearful of their numbers. There were three Massacres Chinese. subsequent massacres of Chinese by the Spaniards for the same reason. During the next two decades the coastal, Complete Spanregions of almost the entire archipelago were brought under Spanish control. ish control. ernment. of gov Spanish occupa The Spanish government of the Philippines was placed Spanish under the viceroy of New Spain (Mexico) and all communications were through him. A captain general was at the same time military commander and head of the civil government. The main purpose of the Spaniards Purpose of in the Philippines was the search for treasure, commerce tion. and the spread of Christianity; but they soon discovered that the amount of treasure obtainable in the islands was limited, and, although a constant expense to both the Governments of New Spain and Spain, they were retained to spread the Christian religion. In 1592 the Shogun Hideyoshi of Japan demanded, Demands Japan. that the Spanish government of the Philippine Islands pay annual tribute and acknowledge the sovereignty of Japan. The Spanish government was loath to do this, but due to shortage of men and ships and lack of support from New Spain, was forced to acquiesce to the extent of paying tribute, which was actually paid on several Tribute. occasions during a period of from 15 to 20 years. Islands. of Spanish control continued in the Philippines until, Spain controls 1898, although the Portuguese, Dutch, and British tried at various times to overthrow the Spanish power. All these efforts were unsuccessful, though the British cap-tion of Manila. tured Manila and ruled it for three years under Alexander Dalrymple, in the middle of the eighteenth century. British occupa |