THE PHILIPPINES: Fireworks & Fear

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Strings. U. S. critics of the Islands' release complain that all Commonwealth status did was to give the Filipinos the governing power and the U. S. the worries. Actually, the sections of H. R. 8573 which define the rights of both States is extremely cautious about giving the Commonwealth any authority which might be hazardous to U. S. interests. All monetary laws, all loans from foreign countries, all legislation dealing with external trade and immigration are subject to the U. S. President's approval. Until final independence ten years hence, the final court of Philippine appeal is still the U. S. Supreme Court. The Commonwealth President, who serves for six years, is obliged to make an annual report to the U. S. President and Congress. The official language remains English and U. S. citizens are guaranteed the same property rights as those of Filipinos. Final, strongest string kept on the Islands is that, by proclamation, the U. S. President may at any time "exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of the government of the Commonwealth."

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