Speech #730071855

I wish also to call attention to the fact that section 13. of the HareHawesCutting law. provides for a trade conference between the representatives of the Government of the United States on the one hand and the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands on the other. such conference to be held at least 1 year prior to the date fixed in this act for the independence of the Philippine Islands. At such a conference. if the HareHawesCutting law were operative reciprocal agreement on moderate duties and quotas from each country may well be reached. 6. Apropos of the sixth point. attention should be called to the fact that the HareHawesCutting law provides for Filipino immigration on a quota basis and that after independence. the immigration laws of the United States would apply to the Philippines. There is nothing in the HareHawesCutting law that would have prevented "a reciprocal immigration agreement." Under that law and after independence. the Philippines would be empowered to enact immigration laws patterned after those of the United States and embodying provisions favorable to the Philippines and to comity with other nations of the world. The new scheme or proposal by the Committee on the Philippines sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association and the World Peace Foundation but whose recommendations in no way involve the responsibility of the Foreign Policy Association or the World Peace Foundation does not settle the grant of independence to the Philippines at an early date and on a day fixed and certain. Any legislation that falls short of solving this fundamental point does not adequately solve AmericanFilipino relations.