[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H4243-H4244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      GUAM'S CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, the Spanish-American War, which we are in 
the 100th year commemorating this year, was not a self-contained event. 
To the contrary, those events 100 years ago have far-reaching 
consequences today.
  The fact that I am standing here representing Guam, speaking from the 
floor of the House, is testimony to the effects of the Spanish-American 
War. Guam's American journey began on June 20, 1898, when Captain 
Glass, U.S. Commander of the USS Charleston, accepted the surrender of 
Spanish forces based on Guam. From that initial point, our relationship 
with the U.S. has progressed from an island governed by the Navy 
Department and subjected to travel restrictions to an American 
unincorporated territory with a democratically elected local 
government.
  However, the people of Guam continue to strive for political 
development, and since 1988, Guam has continually requested a new 
political status, a Commonwealth with the United States. Unfortunately, 
this next step in our political development has not yet been fully 
addressed.
  The centennial anniversary is a time of reflection for our island. I 
have spoken from the well many times on the significance of this 
occasion, and I believe the centennial anniversary of 100 years under 
American governance should be a time for enlightened retrospection on 
Guam's relationship with the U.S.
  If one were to analyze our relationship with the United States, it 
does not take a think tank strategist to figure out that Guam was and 
continues to be of primary strategic importance in the Pacific. If you 
were to fly a 7-hour airplane trip from Guam in any direction, you will 
hit a larger percentage of the world's population than if you fly from 
any city inside the United States. In fact, Guam was first used by 
American forces as a coaling station, and today we are an important 
base for the forward deployment and strategic positioning of military 
forces in the Asia-Pacific region.
  One would also easily notice that Guam's relationship with the United 
States is characterized by the faith of the people of Guam in the 
American system of government and promise for self-determination. For 
example, Guam's first petition regarding the clarification of their 
political status was in 1901, 2 years after Guam was acquired. In 1933 
a petition signed by the island was presented asking for political 
status clarification.
  Guam is the only American territory that was occupied by enemy forces 
during World War II. Not only did the people of Guam withstand brutal 
marches and abuse for 32 months under the occupation forces, men and 
women even risked their lives to clothe and feed U.S. servicemen hiding 
from the Japanese Army.
  To assist in our efforts to further understand the Spanish-American 
War, I am pleased to announce that the University of Guam's Richard 
Flores Taitano Micronesia Area Research Center is sponsoring a 
conference entitled ``The Legacy of the Spanish-American War, a 
Centennial Conference.''
  I would like to enter into the Record a calendar of events. We have 
international participants for this truly international issue. Academic 
and professionals from the United States, Spain, Germany, Philippines, 
and Guam will be on hand to discuss the Spanish-American War itself. On 
June 21, later on this month, there will be a reenactment of the 
raising of the American flag over Guam.
  Commemorating the centennial of that flag-raising will be a once-in-
a-lifetime opportunity for many. However, I would like to emphasize, 
that for the people of Guam, 1998 is a year of commemoration, a year to 
remember Guam's transfer from Spanish to American jurisdiction. It was 
an act of colonialism based upon a previous Spanish

[[Page H4244]]

act of conquest and an American victory in war. The people of Guam, my 
people, really had very little to do with it.
  The Treaty of Paris, signed between the United States and Spain, 
stipulates that the United States Congress is obligated to determine 
the civil rights and political status of Guam's native inhabitants. One 
hundred years has passed, and this obligation has not been entirely 
fulfilled. The people of Guam certainly have much to reflect upon, and 
I hope that we do not wait for another 100 years before this country 
brings the full meaning of democracy to an area first taken in the 
spirit of imperialism.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the program of the conference I mentioned 
earlier.
  The material referred to is as follows:

     [The Richard Flores Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center, 
                     University of Guam, Presents]

  The Legacy of the Spanish American War in the Pacific: A Centennial 
                  Conference--17, 18 and 19 June 1998

       Inauguration: Hilton Hotel, Wednesday 17 June 1998, 6:15 
     p.m.-9:30 p.m. Panels: Hilton Hotel, Thursday 18 June 1998, 
     8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Guided Tour to Historical Sites: Friday 
     19 June 1998, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Conclusion: Hagana 
     Cathedral-Basilica Friday 19 June 1998, 7:00 p.m.
       Registration, Hilton Hotel, Wednesday 17 June 1998, 5:00 
     p.m., $25.00.
       Join this interdisciplinary conference, which offers the 
     possibility for an exchange of ideas among local, national 
     and international scholars. As an academic conference, it 
     will increase discussion regarding the effects of 1898, not 
     only on Guam, but on other areas of the Pacific.
       This year, 1998, the centennial of the Spanish American 
     War, provides an opportunity to reflect on the events that 
     directly affected the people of Guam and the Pacific. It is 
     important to consider those historical events that show the 
     links of Guam with the Philippines and Spain in the past and 
     with the United States today, while paying significant 
     attention to the expectations of its people.
       Featured Panelists:
       Key Note Speaker, Congressman Robert Underwood.
       Lourdes Diaz-Trechuclo, Ph.D., Universidad de Cordoba, 
     Spain ``Spanish Politics and the Mariana Islands.''
       Herman Hiery, Ph.D., University of Bayreuth, Germany ``War 
     with Germany is Imminent: Germany and the Philippines in the 
     Spanish American War.''
       Thomas H. Neale, U.S. Library of Congress ``Reluctant 
     Imperialist? U.S. Congress and the War of 1898.''
       Wilfrido Vallacorta, Ph.D., De la Salle University, 
     Philippines.
       Logan Wagner, Ph.D., University of Texas ``Architectural 
     and Urban Design Legacy of Guam's Spanish Period.''
       Javier Galvain, Architect, School of Architecture, Madrid 
     ``The Preservation of the Architectural Legacy of 
     Micronesia.''
       Jorge Loyzaga, Senior Architect, Mexico.
       Dirk A. Ballendorf, Ed.D., University of Guam ``The 
     Americans, the Spanish-American War, and the Caroline 
     Islands.''
       Prof. Augusto de Viana, University Ateneo de Manila 
     ``Apolinario Mabini and other Revolutionaries exiled in Guam 
     by the Americans.''
       Florentino Rodao, Ph.D., Universidad Complutense, Madrid 
     ``Monsignor Olano, Bishop of Guam.''
       Arnold M. Leibowitz, Esq., Washington, D.C. ``The Concept 
     of Commonwealth and Freely Associate States.''
       Most Rev. Anthony Apuron, O.F.M. Cap, D.D. ``The Role of 
     the Church in the Preservation of the Chamorro Language.''
       Rafael Rodiguez-Ponga, Ph.D., Director General of 
     International Cooperation of the Ministry of Education and 
     Culture of Spain. ``The Spanish Influence in the Chamorro 
     Language.''
       Laura T. Sauder, Ph.D., CEO, Betances & Associates, Chicago 
     ``Enduring Legacies: A Catholic Socio-religious Identity, An 
     American Socio-political Identity.''
       Antonio Garcia-Abasolo, Ph.D., Universidad de Cordoba, 
     Spain ``Spanish Migration and Population to the 
     Philippines.''
       Ann Hattori, Ph.D., candidate, University of Hawaii at 
     Manoa ``Feminine Hygiene: Gender and Health Under the U.S. 
     Naval Government of Guam, 1898-1941.''
       Robert E. Statham, Ph.D., University of Guam ``The U.S. 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico: Pragmatism and the Empty Promise 
     of Confederal Autonomy in the American Federal Republic.''
       Michael Phillips, Esq., Guam ``Give 'em an inch; they take 
     a yard. Grant 'em an easement; they take it all.''
       Donald Platt, Ph.D., University of Guam ``Humanitarianism, 
     Imperialism, or what? Demythologizing the United States' 
     Reasons for going to War with Spain in 1898.''
       Robert F. Rogers, Ph.D., University of Guam (R) ``From 
     Spanish Lake to America Lake: The Enduring Geopolitical 
     Legacy of the Spanish American War.''
       For more information contact RFT MARC 735-2150 or Professor 
     Omaira Brunal-Perry, Chairperson Organizing Committee 735-
     2157.
       This program is supported by The University of Guam, The 
     Richard Flores Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center, the 
     Director General of International Cooperation of the Ministry 
     of Education and Culture of Spain, the Guam Preservation 
     Trust, the Guam Visitors Bureau, the U.S. Department of 
     Interior, the Office of Delegate Robert Underwood, Title VI 
     NRC/FLAGS Grant Project, the 24th Guam Legislature and the 
     Centennial Task Force.

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