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The quick action of the Senate Philippine Committee at once placed the bill on the Senate calendar, and when that body reconvened after the holiday recess, it was the first feature of the so-called "administration legislative program" to be ready for action. The debate began in the Senate on January 5, 1916, and attention was at once centered on the preamble. Question was immediately raised as to what possible interpretation could be given the independence promise contained therein. Would it settle in a satisfactory manner the vexatious Philippine problem? Would it really pave the way for the independence of the Philippines? Could it not be construed to mean that the American nation was free to refuse ever to grant the Filipinos their independence because of belief that the permanent interests of the Islands would always demand the retention of the Islands by the United States? In the opening speech of Senator Hitchcock he was interrupted by Senator Cummins of Iowa with this same inquiry. "Suppose," said Mr. Cummins, "that I believe it would be better for the people of the Philippine Islands to remain permanently attached to the United States as a State, with all the privileges of a State, or otherwise, would I not fulfil the promise or assurance of the preamble in voting to retain the Philippine Islands as a part of the territory of the United

States?" To this Mr. Hitchcock very candidly answered, "I presume the Senator would." Here was the confession of the author of the bill himself that the preamble was not an explicit pledge that the Philippines should be given their independ

ence.

Interest was aroused by this revelation. American sentiment in favor of Philippine independence has always been widespread, but was and is still rather dormant, due to the lack of interest on the part of most citizens in Philippine affairs, to the great distances that separate them from the Islands, and to the impression created among them by the retentionists that the Filipinos needed generations of training and trusteeship before the question of independence could be wisely discussed. This dormant sentiment was now for the first time beginning to take definite forms. Again the question was raised by Democratic senators whether the preamble of the bill really carried out the platform pledge of the Democratic party. Would a measure which merely made the Philippine Government more liberal and which, according to the statement of the author himself, might or might not lead to the granting of Philippine independence, be really in accord with Democratic platforms and promises? Was it not in effect a further evasion of the question of independence? Sentiment in favor of a

more definite statement of policy thereupon increased in the Senate. Taking advantage of this trend of feeling, Senator Clarke of Arkansas, on January 12, 1916, made it known that he would introduce an amendment which would grant the Filipinos their independence in two years, would instruct the President to negotiate neutralization treaties with as many nations as were willing to sign such agreements, and would make the United States the sole guarantor of such independence in case no nation was willing to join as a signatory. The President was reported to be opposed to this amendment on the ground that a definite and irrevocable date when independence should be granted was a most unwise provision because nobody knew in what situation the United States would find itself at any particular time. When Senator Clarke learned of the objection of the President to the establishment of a definite fixed date, he modified his amendment so as to make the granting of independence effective in not less than two and not more than four years, with a further provision to the effect that the President might extend the time to one year more and might again submit the subject to Congress. The President, thereupon, withdrew his objection. Mr. Clarke further perfected his amendment and, when finally passed, it had taken shape as follows:

The President is hereby authorized and directed to withdraw and surrender all right of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control, or sovereignty now existing and exercised by the United States in and over the territory and people of the Philippines, and he shall on behalf of the United States fully recognize the independence of the said Philippines as a separate and selfgoverning nation and acknowledge the authority and control over the same of the government instituted by the people thereof, and full power to take the several steps necessary to institute such government is hereby conferred upon the said Philippines acting by and through governmental agencies created by this Act. This transfer of possession, sovereignty, and governmental control shall be completed and become absolute not less than two years nor more than four years from the date of the approval of this Act, under the terms and in the manner hereinafter prescribed: Provided, That if the President, prior to the expiration of the said period of four years, shall find that the condition of the internal or external affairs of said Philippines in respect to the stability or efficiency of the proposed government thereof is such as to warrant him in so doing, he is hereby further authorized, by proclamation duly made and published, to extend the said time to and including the date of the final adjournment of the session of Congress which shall convene next after the date of the expiration of the said period of four years, and thus afford the Congress an opportunity in its discretion to further consider the situation in the said Philippines; but any such extension of time by the President shall not otherwise suspend or nullify the operative force of this Act, unless

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the Congress shall hereafter so direct. For the purpose of a complete and prompt compliance with this direction, the President is hereby invested with full power and authority to make such orders and regulations and to enter into such negotiations with the authorities of said. Philippines or others as may be necessary to finally settle and adjust all property rights and other relations as between the United States and the said Philippines, and to cause to be acknowledged, respected, and safeguarded all of the personal and property rights of citizens or corporations of the United States and of other countries resident or engaged in business in said Philippines or having property interests therein. In any such settlement or adjustment so made in respect to the rights and property of the United States as against the said Philippines the President may reserve or acquire such lands and rights and privileges appurtenant thereto as may, in his judgment, be required by the United States for naval bases and coaling stations within the territory of said Philippines. LL

Upon the motion of Senator Kenyon of Iowa (Republican) the following guarantee and neutralization provisions had been stricken out:

Immediately upon the passage of the Act, the President shall invite the coöperation of the principal nations interested in the affairs of that part of the world in which the Philippines are located, in the form of a treaty or other character of binding agreement, whereby the cooperating nations shall mutually pledge themselves to recognize and respect the sovereignty and independence of the said Philippines, and also to mutually obligate

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