?ork Tiraea, f'aroh 3, 1940 HILIPPINE OUTLOOK OBSCURE Sayre Statement Serves to Revive Debate And Increase Re-examinationist Activity By H. FORD WILKINS WirvlMa to Thi New York Toiia. MANILA. March 2—Recent pro- nouncements regarding the inde- pendence of the Philippines both from High Commissioner Francis B. Sayre and from the highest Fili- pino authorities have served locally both to bewilder and Intensify feel- ings regarding the disposal of theso island possessions after 1946. As things stand Mr. Sayre's recent re- affirmation of his belief that tho Philippines will not be occupied by America beyond the Independence day now set rests without chal- lenge. It Is conceded generally here that Mr. Sayre's views on Inde- pendence were not a snap judg- ment. In essence they were ex- pressed by him before he departed from the United States. That they nro almost diametrically opposed to Paul V. McNutt's views after tho latter's two and a half years' In- cumbency In the post of High Com- missioner also is realized. Mr. Sayre believes the Filipinos will not ac- cept any kind of compromise based on a lessening of the autonomy they now enjoy. Mr. McNutt, on the contrary. Is convinced that they are frightened by international circum- stances to the point where most Filipinos would be willing to ac- copt American proprietorship in ex- change for a guarantee of their present status of freedom. Filipino Opinion Tho true point of view of the Fili- pinos Is at present unasccrtalnablo without pinning down individually each one of the sixteen million In- habitants on what they actually be- lieve. This is obviously Impossible. Tha best one can do is to ask rep- resentative elements of the various factions what they believe. Signifi- cantly, Manuel Quezon, first Presi- dent of tho Commonwealth, mado himself unavailable for comment. Mr. Quezon represents tho leader- ship of tho Filipinos now in power. Tho pro-NcNutt Filipino Rc-ex- aminationist party Is headed by As- semblyman Jose Romero, who said: "We gather from High Commis- sioner Sayre's statement that he is not fundamentally opposed to re- examination of the political phase of Amcrlcan-Phlllipine relations as he Is often reported to be. He does Insist, however, that the initiative must come from this side. Ho be- lieves it unlikely that the National Assembly will make any such re- quest. He also sees practical diffi- culties on the American side, al- though he thinks many members of Congress would be seriously swayed by the desires of the Filipinos. Incidents Traced "As regards the attitude of the Assembly it should be noticed that only a little over a year ago all Manila papers, including those now opposed to re-examination, said that tho majority of the members of tho Assembly favored Mr. Mc- Nutt's proposal. Tho names of those for and against re-examina- tion were given. Fifteen Assembly- men are still firmly and publicly for their original opinion, while many more are seriously studying the question, and it is not unrea- sonable to hope that the pendulum may swing back in a year or two. "It seems to us that tho difficulty j as to where the Initiative should £ proceed would be obviated if Con- [ gress restored to the Independence I Law the provision in the original draft for a plebiscite shortly before 1M6. There are many who feel that the plebiscite conducted In 1934 did not present tho question fairly and squarely becauso it was coupled with the question of ac- cepting a more autonomous com- (' monwealth government, which they did desire, and the implication was that they renounced Independence forever if they rejected the act. Furthermore, great changes in the world have taken place since then. Signatures in' great numbers are pouring into the offices of our Civil League 7fc