[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 312 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 312

 Urging the President to authorize the transfer of ownership of one of 
  the bells taken from the town of Balangiga on the island of Samar, 
  Philippines, which are currently displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force 
                Base, to the people of the Philippines.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 7, 1997

  Mr. Underwood (for himself, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. 
 Filner, and Mrs. Mink of Hawaii) submitted the following resolution; 
     which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Urging the President to authorize the transfer of ownership of one of 
  the bells taken from the town of Balangiga on the island of Samar, 
  Philippines, which are currently displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force 
                Base, to the people of the Philippines.

Whereas the United States of America and the citizens of the Republic of the 
        Philippines have shared historic and political ties for over 100 years;
Whereas the acquisition of the Philippines in 1898 ushered in unprecedented 
        American influence in the affairs of the Asia-Pacific region;
Whereas, at the onset of the acquisition of the Philippines, armed conflict 
        occurred between the Americans and the Filipinos;
Whereas during the course of that conflict, a particularly noteworthy incident 
        occurred on the island of Samar in 1901;
Whereas that incident involved the ringing of the church bells of the town of 
        Balangiga on the island of Samar to signal the outbreak of fighting;
Whereas units of the United States Armed Forces confiscated the bells of 
        Balangiga and brought them to the United States as war trophies;
Whereas these units were stationed at Fort D.A. Russell in Cheyenne, Wyoming, 
        which subsequently became the current F.E. Warren Air Force Base, where 
        the bells of Balangiga have since remained;
Whereas the acts of conflict and cruelty that surrounded the bells of Balangiga 
        are not consistent with the friendship and cooperation that have been an 
        integral part of the relationship between the Republic of the 
        Philippines and the United States of America;
Whereas Filipino soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder with American troops on 
        the battlefields of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam;
Whereas the bells of Balangiga should more properly serve as a symbol of 
        friendship and cooperation and not of unfortunate misunderstanding and 
        conflict;
Whereas the Republic of the Philippines has repeatedly requested the return of 
        the bells;
Whereas a recent proposal provides a means for both countries to mutually share 
        in the heritage that the bells of Balangiga represent, enabling both 
        countries to retain an original and a duplicate bell;
Whereas 1998 is the centennial celebration of Philippine independence; and
Whereas the United States holds supportable legal title to the bells 
        recognizable under international law and the United States Government 
        has final disposition over the bells of Balangiga: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges the President to 
authorize the transfer of ownership of one of the bells taken from the 
town of Balangiga on the island of Samar, Philippines, which are 
currently displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, to the people of the 
Philippines as a measure of friendship, good will, and cooperation.
                                 <all>