Now, several attempts were also made, not only from the Senate but also by Members of the House of Representatives, and of that we are fully appreciative, and today we feel that this will be most significant to us that we have finally come face to face with you, particularly the Senate, where we can appeal to your sense of justice and that you will consider our people.

Now, going back to the question of power, as I said, the Guam Congress did pass its approval on the proposed act. The committee that was out there did not object to any amendment that we may recommend. I know there were several amendments made. However, as my colleague has said, we are enjoined not to recommend any amendments or to do anything which would prejudice the passage of the act.

Senator ANDERSON. Enjoined by whom?

Mr. WON PAT. By our congress. Whatever amendments you people decide to make, that, naturally, will be within your province. There is absolutely nothing that we can do about that, because we have not that executive power, nor do I believe there is any executive power in the world that would force you to make the necessary amendments. Now, we do not believe in asking for something that we cannot get.

I believe that particular phrase there within the meaning of the constitution is not truly American, and we personally believe-in other words, if you were to extend us these privileges, we do not mean to be discriminatory. I believe that this was largely phrased from the standpoint of paternalism, that is, to protect the native inhabitants from exploitation.

Senator ANDERSON. Well, it is not an unusual thing. There is a provisions in the laws of Mexico that protects native-born citizens of Mexico in the acquisition of real estate and make it somewhat difficult for nationals of other countries to acquire real estate in Mexico. Now, if that is the purpose of this, it ought to be stated frankly so we will know what we are passing upon. If that is not the purpose of this, then something else must be the reason.

Mr. LEÓN-GUERRERO. May I offer this, Mr. Chairman: When I passed the buck I thought it was in reference to the business that you emphasized.

Senator ANDERSON. I think it might even apply to business.

Mr. LEÓN-GUERRERO. Speaking about the land problem, it has been recommended-I owe an explanation about the real estate-it was even proposed before us in the Guam Congress, due to the very unusual, to say the least-well, we will just say, very frankly, due to the shattered economy of the island, particularly the economy of the farm owners, of the people who were living off the land, we felt that a certain period or time limitation would be justifiable under the circumstances. That is, about the land problem.

Senator ANDERSON. Let me just say to you this: I am not trying in any way to embarrass either one of you. You are here representing the Guamanian Congress, and we want you to know we are trying to help you with what you are after and not trying to hurt you with your home folks. If you have any statements about this which you desire to make subsequently, or if you desire to supply Governor Skinner with information so that he can talk privately with the members of

the committee, that is perfectly all right with me. I was just trying to bring it out in the open to see what it is.

Mr. LEÓN-GUERRERO. Mr. Chairman, this may be brought out in the open because we have submitted a proposed organic act, and in that proposed organic act we have proposed that for a certain time limitation after the passage of this act restrictions be made, not to native Guamanians, but the bona fide resident of Guam, and a bona fide resident of Guam needs not be a native-born Guamanian. It is perfectly well understood, and it will be unnecessary for me to explain my position in that situation. I passed the buck on the business.

Senator ANDERSON. I will say to you that in the State that I represent in the Senate there was for a long time and still is a provision in the organic act to permit the Legislature of New Mexico to be conducted both in English and in Spanish; this provision requires interpreters to handle it; and the use of either language is permitted for bills and legislative proposals. That has been in existence for many years. By common consent, interpreters have disappeared from both the senate and house of our State legislature, but any time our native population might desire it, the provision might be restored to effect. I do not think there is anything wrong with that. It differs somewhat with the pattern of legislatures throughout the rest of the United States, and there is always propriety in protecting and correcting unusual situations. That is the only provision here. I thought if it was possible to have an explanation of this in the record it might make it simple to explain it on the floor of the Senate.

Mr. LEÓN-GUERRERO. We were informed in that connection that our legislature may provide for local protection, provided it is temporary protection. It is not going to be permanent.

Mr. WON PAT. Mr. Chairman, do the various States not also have some form of regulative laws?

Senator ANDERSON. Well, they do not require that a man in order to run a filling station has to be born in the precinct.

Mr. WON PAT. I do not mean that, but a lawyer cannot go from Washington to California and practice law?

Senator ANDERSON. That is one thing we are very touchy on in the United States. He shall be allowed to take the bar examination in another State. He shall not be required to be born there before he can practice law or medicine or run a store.

Mr. WON PAT. Well, our law should be under the same pattern. I mean, we have no objection whatsoever in that regard.

Senator ANDERSON. This language would permit you, however, to prevent engineers, lawyers, doctors, businessmen of any kind, from coming in and setting up a business in Guam. They might not want We kind of like to feel that that is permissible.

to.

Mr. WON PAT. No, it is not our intent to prevent that.

Senator ANDERSON. "May enact such legislation as may be necessary to protect the lands and business enterprises of persons of Guamanian ancestry." Now, if that is not a clear statement of intent to bar everybody but Guamanians from business, I do not know how much clearer you could put it.

Mr. WON PAT. Well, personally, there are quite a number of businessmen from the mainland over there.

Senator ANDERSON. Well, if there is anyone in business

I mean

Mr. WON PAT. In spite of the fact that the present agency, government agency, for the island of Guam has the same policy in this paternalism of protecting local inhabitants, I believe that is just an inadvertence. I am in full accord that that provision should be stricken out of here.

Governor SKINNER. Mr. Chairman, I would like to present to you Mr. A. T. Bordallo, the president of the Guam Chamber of Commerce. While he is coming up, I have a couple of men I would like to introduce to the committee. Mr. Ben Palomo, a leading businessman. Would you come up? And Mr. Pedro Ada, a leading Guamanian businessman.

Then I would like to introducd to the committee Gen. Henry Larson, the very first postwar military governor of Guam.

Mr. Hotz will be speaking after Mr. Bordallo. We have just one or two more speakers.

STATEMENT OF A. T. BORDALLO, PRESIDENT, GUAM CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE

Mr. BORDALLO. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, first I must thank the committee for the opportunity given me to testify and for the interest shown in our island.

I now go on record as favoring the passage of an organic act for the island of Guam and American citizenship for its people.

Guam, though situated about 5,000 miles from continental United States, is really an American community in every way. Its people have acquired the American way of life to a remarkable degree. From a commercial point of view Guam will compare very favorably with any American community of like size. There are department stores, supermarkets, soda fountains, dress shops, drug stores, haberdasheries, restaurants and beer parlors, beauty shops, insurance offices, taxicabs-practically every line of business in an American community and all leading manufacturers of American automobiles, foodstuffs, clothing, cigarettes, beer, liquor have representaton on the island. There are Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola works, ice plant, and even a popsicle plant now operating. At present three airlines and three steamship lines call at Guam regularly and there is no reason why these should not be increased or services improved with the advent of normal civilian trade relations and procedures. Guam is the center of distribution for both outgoing and incoming commerce with the trust territories of the Pacific. Copra from the neighboring islands could be brought to Guam and, upon establishment of a plant there, processed. Guam's climate and soil are ideal for growing things hard to procure elsewhere. As an example, the cacao bean-which I understand is not grown in any other American territory-had been grown and exported in considerable quantities before the advent of the American regime. Before the war a few inquiries and surveys had been made by companies interested in the production of sugarcane and pineapples, but, though the soil and climate were favorable, the uncertainties of military government prevented these industries from getting started. The same thing is true of the fishing industry. The waters surrounding Guam for hundreds of miles abound with fish. These potential industries should help make Guam self-sustaining.

Our social way of life is also remarkably similar to that of any American community of like size, garnished with our historical and distinct Spanish traditions.

We have our Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Lions Club, American Legion and other veterans service organizations, as well as the Eagles and other fraternal societies.

Our contributions to the American Red Cross and other charitable organizations have always been generous through the years.

I need not dwell upon the loyalty of our people to flag and country as that is a matter of record.

It is therefore my firm belief that after 50 years of tutelage and indoctrination in American principles and ideals under the firm and paternal hand of the United States Navy, we are now of age, so to speak, and competent to assume the responsibilities of taking part in our local government and the realization of our highest aspirationto become full-fledged citizens of the greatest Nation on earth, the United States of America.

Senator ANDERSON. Thank you very much.

May I break in and ask if Commander George Germershausen has a statement here? I believe you were in the islands with the United States Navy.

Commander GERMERSHAUSEN. Yes, sir.

Senator ANDERSON. Do you have any statement to submit on this at all?

Commander GERMERSHAUSEN. No, sir.

Senator ANDERSON. Does the Navy have any statement to submit to the committee?

Commander GERMERSHAUSEN. Mr. Chairman, I am unprepared to make any statement.

Senator ANDERSON. Well, Commander, if there is any statement to be made at any subsequent time, will you get it to the clerk of the committee so that it may be incorporated in the record?

Commander GERMERSHAUSEN. Yes, sir.

Senator ANDERSON. We do not want to leave you out if you wish to give us any statement on it.

Commander GERMERSHAUSEN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator ANDERSON. Thank you.

Governor SKINNER. Mr. Hotz.

Mr. Chairman, this is Mr. William Hotz, an Omaha lawyer. He has been in naval service during the war, and he has been there frequently since the war to see the people of Guam. He has come in at his own expense to testify in behalf of the act.

STATEMENT OF WILLIAM HOTZ, ATTORNEY AT LAW, OMAHA,

NEBR.

Mr. Horz. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I have about 6 minutes here, and if there are any questions just break right in and ask them, because I do not wish to take up more time.

I am going to dismiss immediately the question of the loyalty of the people or their war capacity. Those items have been completely covered, and I have a prepared statement that has touched upon those objections, but I feel that there should be something emphasized to this committee, and that is that there was an historical

incident that took place during the last war, and that was the incident at Bataan. I think we can come to the conclusion that the reason that there was an intense loyalty, that the reason there was a Bataan incident and I have talked to people who have been there because I have been in the Philippines long enough to sense the feelingis because the United States of America treated those peoples as individuals and because they treated them as human beings and granted them that certain dignity.

The Declaration of Independence, the second paragraph of it is perfectly clear, that all persons are endowed with certain inalienable rights, and it is certainly the function of the United States Government, it seems to me, to protect those rights.

Now, the Bataan incident which resulted, which can be traced, I believe, to the fact that the United States treated those people as individuals, has resulted in the loyalty which was expressed at that time.

I am afraid that throughout the world today that the United States. is in a position where we want to do everything possible to sustain those principles that we have constantly preached, democracy, and the principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence, and I feel that we should take the lead in granting to these people the rights expressed in the organic act.

There has been a hue and cry of imperialism. In fact, I think if we just look back a little bit at the San Francisco Conference, the United States was doing everything to preach and to advocate the independence of countries of the Orient, the smaller countries, and that there was a lot of criticism when there were certain plans to take over and control some of these islands for trust purposes and for military purposes. We have an excellent foothold in the Pacific, and where the people of Guam are not going to change their loyalty at all merely because this bill is granted or whether it is not, but the important consideration, it seems to me, Mr. Chairman, is that in fulfilling the wishes, the purposes, the aims of this Government, we are goingand in continuing to guarantee the loyalty and the support of these Guamanian people, that the passage of this act is most important.

Now, I want to go on record as completely supporting this bill. There are minor things that perhaps should be worked out and clarified. I do not support it in all its details; there are things which naturally will be worked out in this committee and in conference; but I do wish definitely to go on record in support of this legislation, and if there are any questions or if there are any further matters, I would certainly be very willing to answer them.

Senator ANDERSON. Thank you.

Mr. McDonnell.

STATEMENT OF PIERCE MCDONNELL, ATTORNEY AT LAW, MEMBER OF THE VIRGINIA BAR

Mr. MCDONNELL. My name is Pierce McDonnell. I am a practicing attorney and a member of the Virginia bar. I appear here at my own expense. I appear here because I have an interest in the Orient. I have traveled there, both on assignment as a Naval Reserve officer and also on business representing clients with interests in that part of the world.