561.35E1/63: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Bingham )
90. For Atherton: Your 101, March 7, noon.22 President’s message of March 223 regarding Philippine independence recommends to the [Page 676] Congress two amendments to the Hawes-Cutting Act;24 the first modifies the provisions concerning military and naval bases and the second extends the time limit for acceptance of the Act by the proper authorities and by the people of the Philippine Islands. No change suggested in the provisions affecting the marketing of Philippine sugar in the United States.
Furthermore, the President states:
“I do not believe that other provisions of the original law need be changed at this time. Where imperfections or inequalities exist, I am confident that they can be corrected after proper hearing and in fairness to both peoples. … To change, at this time, the economic provisions of the previous law would reflect discredit on ourselves.”