Speech #720089140

R. 7233. granting independence after a period of eight years following the establishment of the government of the Philippine Commonwealth provided for in the bill. Congressman WELCH of California. who is a member of the House Committee on Insular Affairs. took active part in the discussion of the bill. He himself presented a Philippine independence bill similar to the one presented by Senators HAWES and CUTTING. and Congressman HARE in the House. with a provision that would adequately remedy the question of Philippine immigration. The Welch bill contained a provision that would remedy the question of Filipino immigration by excluding Filipinos from entering continental United States. This provision was inserted in the Hare bill. which originally contained no immigration provision. While the bill provides for complete independence eight years after the people of the Philippine Islands establish a commonwealth government. which. pursuant to the provision of the bill. may add two years to that time. The immigration provision. however. goes into effect 60 days after the President signs the bill. While the hearings were being held on the Philippine independence bill all the Members of the House of Representatives from the State of California submitted a statement to the effect thatAny bill changing the status of the Philippine Islands shoulck contain a provision excluding Philippine immigrants from entering the United States. My colleagues and I have since had an opportunity to vote for the passage of a Philippine independence bill. and our approval was based not only upon the ground that it would settle satisfactorily the question of Philippine immigration but that it would be a fulfillment of a moral obligation of the United States to the people of the Philippines.