INDEPENDENCE AND THE

E S TA B L I S H M E N T O F A N E W
R E PU B L I C

By: Damasco, Dayrit and D’sa

 TREATY OF MANILA (1946)

Also called the Treaty of General Relations between the Republic of the
Philippines and the United States of America
Signed on July 4, 1946 in Manila
It relinquished U.S. sovereignty over the Philippines and recognized the
independence of the Republic of the Philippines.
 CONT.
The treaty was signed by High Commissioner Paul V. McNutt as a representative of the
United States and President Manuel Roxas representing the Philippines.
It was signed by President Truman on August 14, 1946 after the U.S. Senate gave its
advice and consent on July 31, 1946 by ratification of the treaty.
The treaty was accompanied by a “provisional agreement concerning friendly relations
and diplomatic and consular representation” until the treaty was ratified.
The Treaty of Manila relinquished US possession of the Philippines and recognized the
Republic of the Philippines. It contained several provisions which established but also
limited full Philippine sovereignty.
 T H E T R E AT Y C O N TA I N S S E V E R A L K E Y
PROVISIONS:

Recognition of sovereignty: The US recognized the independence of the Republic of

the Philippines and acknowledged the control of the government by the Filipino people.
Military base retention: The US retained military bases and related assets and rights, to
seek "the mutual protection of the United States of America and of the Republic of the
Philippines" as agreed upon by the Philippine government.
Diplomatic representation: The US would provide temporary diplomatic
representation on behalf of the Philippines when requested by its government and agreed
upon by the US.
 T H E T R E AT Y C O N TA I N S S E V E R A L K E Y
PROVISIONS:

Temporary judicial influence: Decisions on all cases pending before the US Supreme
Court prior to independence regarding the Philippine government and people would take
effect. No new cases originating in the Philippines could be filed in the Court.
Adherence to all continuing US obligations of the Treaty of Paris (1898): The
Philippines had to adhere to any continuing obligations of that treaty, which included:
• Freedom of religion for all Filipinos
• Right of Spanish citizens within the Philippines to appear before courts and
receive equal treatment before the law
• Maintaining the validity of Spanish patents and copyrights
 BELL TRADE ACT (1946)
Also called The Philippine Trade Act of 1946
The Philippine Congress approved the measure on July 2, two days before independence
from the United States of America, and on September 18, 1946 approved a plebiscite to
amend the Constitution of the Philippines.
An act passed by the U.S. Congress specifying the economic conditions governing the
emergence of the Republic of the Philippines from U.S.
The United States Congress offered $800 million for post-World War II rebuilding funds
if the Bell Trade Act was ratified by the Philippine Congress.
The specifics of the act required the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines be amended.
 AUTHORED BY MISSOURI CONGRESSMAN C.
JASPER BELL, THE BELL TRADE ACT REQUIRED:

Preferential tariffs on US products imported into the Philippines;

A 2:1 fixed exchange rate between the Philippine peso and the United States
dollar;
No restrictions on currency transfers from the Philippines to the United States;
"Parity rights" granting U.S. citizens and corporations rights to Philippine natural
resources equal to (in parity with) those of Philippine citizens, contrary to Article XIII
in the 1935 Philippine Constitution, necessitating a constitutional amendment.
 MILITARY BASES AGREEMENT (1947)
Signed on March 14, 1947
Signed by President Manuel A. Roxas and Paul V. McNutt, the United States high commissioner in the
Philippines.
As to mutual cooperation, the Agreement states:
It is mutually agreed that the armed forces of the Philippines may serve on United States bases and that the
armed forces of the United States may serve on Philippine military establishments whenever such conditions
appear beneficial as mutually determined by the armed forces of both countries.
Joint outlined plans for the development of military bases in the Philippines may be prepared by military
authorities of the two Governments.
 M I L I TA R Y B A S E S A G R E E M E N T ( 1 9 4 7 )
The Agreement was set for a period of 99 years subject to extension thereafter as agreed by the two
Governments.
This agreement would undergo amendments over the years. Notably in the 1966 amendment, the agreement
was cut down to 25 years of the unexpired portion of the 99 years, expiring in 1991.
The 1979 amendments would reaffirm Philippine sovereignty over the bases and provided for a thorough
review of the agreement every five years.
The United States also pledged its best efforts to provide the Philippines with US$900 million in economic and
military aid over the next five years (1984-88), up from US$500 million over the previous five years.
On September 16, 1991, in a vote of 12-11, the Philippine Senate rejected a negotiated treaty that would allow
an extension of the stay of the U.S. bases in the country. The 11 senators who voted in favor of the new treaty
were 5 short of the two-thirds majority needed for ratification.
 P R O C L A M AT I O N N O . 5 1 ( 1 9 4 8 )
Also called as A Proclamation Granting Amnesty of 1948
Signed on January 28, 1948
President Roxas granted full amnesty to all so-called Philippine collaborators, many of
whom were on trial or awaiting to be tried, particularly former President José P. Laurel
(1943–1945)
 The Amnesty Proclamation did not apply to those "collaborators", who were charged
with the commission of common crimes, such as murder, rape, and arson
The presidential decision did much to heal a standing wound that somehow threatened
to divide the people's sentiments. It was a much-called for measure to bring about a closer
unity in the trying times when such was most needed for the progress of the nation
 SOURCES
Philippines (1946). Treaty of General Relations and Protocol with the Republic of the Philippines:
Message from the President of the United States Transmitting the Treaty of General Relations and Protocol
Between the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines, Signed at Manila on July 4,
1946. U.S. Government Printing Office.
Schirmer, Daniel B; Shalom, Stephen Rosskamm (1987), The Philippines reader: a history of colonialism,
neocolonialism, dictatorship, and resistance, South End Press, p. 88, ISBN 978-0-89608-275-5
"Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines Concerning
Military Bases" (PDF). United States Library of Congress. March 14, 1947.
https://www.loc.gov/law/help/us-treaties/bevans/b-ph-ust000011-0003.pdf

https://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/79th-congress/session-2/c79s2ch244.pdf

https://www.loc.gov/law/help/us-treaties/bevans/b-ph-ust000011-0055.pdf
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1948/01/28/proclamation-no-51-s-1948/

https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/The-early-republic
https://www.britannica.com/event/Bell-Trade-Act

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Military-Bases-Agreement