Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930 / Published under the direction of Dean maximo M. Kalaw, executive secretary, University of the Philippines.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SECTION 217

There are four different ways of solving the Philippine
problem:
In the first place, the Government of the United States may
recognize the independence of the Philippines and then completely abandon us. With a territory and number of inhabitants much greater than those of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Cuba, Hungary, Portugal and Switzerland, and we, knowing
our rights, responsibilities, and duties under International Law,
this arrangement may be accepted by the Philippines, making
*itself afterwards a member of the League of Nations in order
to receive its protection against all aggression. But this solution perhaps will not be compatible with the American interests
in this Extreme Orient. The generous blood of her sons has
been shed in this dear land in order that the principles of
liberty and democracy, so sacred in the hearts of the Americans, might be established permanently in this Pearl of the
Orient. Besides, the American commerce in this part of the
world ascends to the sixth part of the 'totality of foreign
commerce, and all this needs the adequate protection of her
government and consequently the necessity for America to have
here naval and military stations.
In the second place, the independence of the Philippines may
be recognized by the Government of the United States soliciting
afterwards our perpetual neutralization by the Great Powers,
or by Japan, Great Britain, France, and the United States at
least on condition that the future Philippine Republic will not
make any treaty of offensive alliance with any other power
following the examples of Switzerland which was neutralized
in 1815 and Belgium which was neutralized in 1839 by the
Great Powers of Europe. But, as has already been said,
for sentimental or materialistic reasons, the government of the
United States wants to keep some portions of the Philippine
territory even after our independence is granted, and so, the
idea of perpetual neutralization seems also impracticable.
In the third place, another possible solution of the Philippine problem is to grant and recognize our independence, imposing on the future Philippine Republic the condition and
obligation of not ceding any part of its territory to any foreign