CO129-465 - Public Offices & Others - 1920 — Page 83

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Molosure in Manila No.25 of July 13th, 1920.

British Consulate-General,

Manila,

July 13th, 1920.

82

Sir:-

With reference to my despatch No.13 of the 17th May on the subject of the Extension of the United States Coastwise Laws to the Philippine Islanda, I have the honour to report further as follows:-

Considerable local feeling has arisen over this matter. When writing in May the existing evidence sug- gested that local American sentiment was against the ex- tension, Little adverse comment of the Resolution of

the Philippine Legislature on the matter was heard. One American daily paper came out strongly against the ex- tension, and the other two did not adopt a particularly atrong attitude in the matter. The Acting Governor-

General expressed himself against the messure; while a

number of the leading American Firme and Merchants, in-

cluding the Directors of the Manila Merohante' Associa-

tion, were known to be also against the proposal. Even

quite recently the Governor-General, on his return from

India, stated in a newspaper interview that, while of

course he would carry out the law as passed, he personally

disapproved of the measure.

The knowledge, however, that the various Chambers of

Commerce had sent a joint protest, and that the initiative

had/

Excellency

H.B.M. Ambassador,

WASHINGTON.