Declaration
Independence of the Philippines, 1946
President Harry S. Truman proclaimed the withdrawal of US sovereignty over the Philippines and recognised its independence on 4 July 1946, under authority granted by the Philippine Independence Act of 1934, the same day the two countries signed the Treaty of Manila.
What happened
Acting under authority granted by "the Act of Congress approved March 24, 1934, known as the Philippine Independence Act," President Harry S. Truman proclaimed on 4 July 1946: "The United States of America hereby withdraws and surrenders all rights of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control, or sovereignty now existing and exercised by the United States of America in and over the territory and people of the Philippines," and further declared, "On behalf of the United States of America, I do hereby recognize the independence of the Philippines as a separate and self-governing nation."[1] The same day, the two countries signed the Treaty of Manila (the Treaty of General Relations), formally establishing US-Philippine diplomatic relations.[2]
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: Acting under the Philippine Independence Act of 1934, President Harry S. Truman proclaimed on 4 July 1946: "The United States of America hereby withdraws and surrenders all rights of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control, or sovereignty now existing and exercised by the United States of America in and over the territory and people of the Philippines," and: "On behalf of the United States of America, I do hereby recognize the independence of the Philippines as a separate and self-governing nation."
- Truman, Harry S., Proclamation 2695 — Independence of the Philippines (The American Presidency Project, University of California, Santa Barbara, 4 July 1946) link, proclamation text. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
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2.
Claim: Japan occupied the Philippines from 1942 to 1945, during which the Commonwealth government operated in exile. The occupation and the subsequent US-led liberation campaign of 1944-45 are estimated to have caused over 1 million Filipino deaths, with the near-total destruction of Manila during its 1945 liberation. The Treaty of Manila (Treaty of General Relations), establishing formal US-Philippine diplomatic relations, was signed 4 July 1946, the same day as Truman's independence proclamation.
- July 4, 1946: The Philippines Gained Independence from the United States (The National WWII Museum) link, article text. Source record