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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 20, 1946
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
In approving H.R. 5158, I wish to take exception to a
legislative rider attached to the transfer of a $200,000,000 item
for the pay of the Army of the Philippines.
The effect of this rider is to bar Philippine Army
veterans from all benefits under the G. I. Bill of Rights with the
exception of disability and death benefits which are made payable
on the basis of one peso for every dollar of eligible benefits.
I realize, however, that certain practical difficulties exist in
applying the G. I. Bill of Rights to the Philippines,
However, the passage and approval of this legislation
do not release the United States from its moral obligation to provide
for the heroic Philippine veterans who sacrificed so much for the
common cause during the war.
Philippine Army veterans are nationals of the United States
and will continue in that status until July 4, 1946. They fought,
as American nationals, under the American flag, and under the direction
of our military leaders. They fought with gallantry and courage under
most difficult conditions during the recent conflict. Their officers
were commissioned by us. Their official organization, the Army of
the Philippine Commonwealth, was taken into the Armed Forces of the
United States by executive order of the President of the United States
on July 26, 1941. That order has never been revoked or amended,
I consider it a moral obligation of the United States to
look after the welfare of Philippine Army veterans.
I recognize, of course, that the Commonwealth Government,
and after it, the Government of the Philippine Republic, have-obliga-
tions to these veterans, But the Government of the Philippines is in
no position today, nor will it be for a number of years, to support a
large-scale program for the care of its veterans.
However, in recognition of the practical difficulties faced
in making payments to Philippine Army veterans under the G. I. Bill of
Rights, I have directed the Secretary of War, the Administrator of
Veterans' Affairs, and the United States High Commissioner to the
Philippines to prepare for me a plan to meet these difficulties.
I
have asked that this plan be submitted not later than March fifteenth.
I expect to request Congress to make such provisions as are necessary
to implement the program when it is evolved,
See also statement of April 4, 1946.
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"ocrText": "IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nFEBRUARY 20, 1946\nSTATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT\nIn approving H.R. 5158, I wish to take exception to a\nlegislative rider attached to the transfer of a $200,000,000 item\nfor the pay of the Army of the Philippines.\nThe effect of this rider is to bar Philippine Army\nveterans from all benefits under the G. I. Bill of Rights with the\nexception of disability and death benefits which are made payable\non the basis of one peso for every dollar of eligible benefits.\nI realize, however, that certain practical difficulties exist in\napplying the G. I. Bill of Rights to the Philippines,\nHowever, the passage and approval of this legislation\ndo not release the United States from its moral obligation to provide\nfor the heroic Philippine veterans who sacrificed so much for the\ncommon cause during the war.\nPhilippine Army veterans are nationals of the United States\nand will continue in that status until July 4, 1946. They fought,\nas American nationals, under the American flag, and under the direction\nof our military leaders. They fought with gallantry and courage under\nmost difficult conditions during the recent conflict. Their officers\nwere commissioned by us. Their official organization, the Army of\nthe Philippine Commonwealth, was taken into the Armed Forces of the\nUnited States by executive order of the President of the United States\non July 26, 1941. That order has never been revoked or amended,\nI consider it a moral obligation of the United States to\nlook after the welfare of Philippine Army veterans.\nI recognize, of course, that the Commonwealth Government,\nand after it, the Government of the Philippine Republic, have-obliga-\ntions to these veterans, But the Government of the Philippines is in\nno position today, nor will it be for a number of years, to support a\nlarge-scale program for the care of its veterans.\nHowever, in recognition of the practical difficulties faced\nin making payments to Philippine Army veterans under the G. I. Bill of\nRights, I have directed the Secretary of War, the Administrator of\nVeterans' Affairs, and the United States High Commissioner to the\nPhilippines to prepare for me a plan to meet these difficulties.\nI\nhave asked that this plan be submitted not later than March fifteenth.\nI expect to request Congress to make such provisions as are necessary\nto implement the program when it is evolved,\nSee also statement of April 4, 1946."
}