The Bell Trade Act of 1946, also known as the Philippine Trade Act, was an act passed by the United States Congress specifying policy governing trade between the Philippines and the United States following independence of the Philippines from the United States.[1][2] The United States Congress offered $800 million for post World War II rebuilding funds if the Bell Trade Act was ratified by the Philippine Congress. The specifics of the act required the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines be amended. The Philippine Congress approved the measure on July 2, two days before independence from the United States of America, and on September 18, 1946 approved a plebiscite to amend the Constitution of the Philippines.
No restrictions on currency transfers from the Philippines to the United States;
"Parity rights" granting U.S. citizens and corporations rights to Philippine natural resources equal to (in parity with) those of Philippine citizens, contrary to Article XIII in the 1935 Philippine Constitution, necessitating a constitutional amendment.[3]
The Bell Act, particularly the parity clause, was seen by critics as an inexcusable surrender of national sovereignty.[4] The pressure of the sugar barons, particularly those of President Roxas's home region of Western Visayas, and other landowner interests, however, was irresistible.[4]
In 1955, the Laurel–Langley Agreement revised the Bell Trade Act.[3] This treaty abolished the United States authority to control the exchange rate of the peso, made parity privileges reciprocal, extended the sugar quota, and extended the time period for the reduction of other quotas and for the progressive application of tariffs on Philippine goods exported to the United States.
As required by the Bell Trade Act, a plebiscite was held in the Philippines to amend the Philippine Constitution to provide for "parity rights" between American and Philippine citizens.
Prior to the plebiscite, the Constitutional amendment had to be approved by the Philippine Congress, which required a 3/4 vote by the Philippine House and Philippine Senate.[4] The 3/4 vote was obtained only by the denial of seats in the House to six members of the leftist Democratic Alliance and three from the Nacionalista Party on grounds of fraud and violent campaign tactics during the April 1946 election.[4] The administration view that the amendment had passed was challenged before the Philippine Supreme Court on the grounds that approval by 3/4 of the full membership was required, not 3/4 of the sitting members, and was decided in favor of the administration position..[4][5]
The plebiscite was held on March 11, 1947 and voters approved the amendment 79% to 21%. Forty percent of voters participated in the plebiscite.[4]
Are you in favor of approving the parity amendment to the constitution, allowing U.S. citizens the right to utilize Philippine natural resources?
^Schirmer, Daniel B; Shalom, Stephen Rosskamm (1987), The Philippines reader: a history of colonialism, neocolonialism, dictatorship, and resistance, South End Press, p. 88, ISBN978-0-89608-275-5
^Kerkvliet, Benedict J (2002), The Huk rebellion: a study of peasant revolt in the Philippines (second ed.), Rowman & Littlefield, p. 150, ISBN978-0-7425-1868-1
^ abAndersen, Regine (2008), Governing agrobiodiversity: plant genetics and developing countries, Ashgate, p. 218, ISBN978-0-7546-4741-6.
^ abcdefDolan, Ronald E, ed. (1991), Philippines: A Country Study, Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress
^Shalom, Stephen R. (1980). "Philippine Acceptance of the Bell Trade Act of 1946: A Study of Manipulatory Democracy". Pacific Historical Review. 49 (3). University of California Press: 499–517. doi:10.2307/3638567. JSTOR 3638567 – via Jstor. (p. 515)
Further readingedit
Dolan, Ronald E, ed. (1991), Philippines: A Country Study, Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress.
Drona, Bert, ed. (September 28, 2012), BELL TRADE ACT (Philippine Trade Act of 1946) - Independence With Strings, From U.S. Colony to U.S. Neo-Colony.
External linksedit
"Commonwealth Act No. 733". Chan Robles Law Library. April 30, 1946. The act by the Philippine Congress acceding to the provisions of the Bell Trade Act.
January 01, 1970
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The Bell Trade Act of 1946 also known as the Philippine Trade Act was an act passed by the United States Congress specifying policy governing trade between the Philippines and the United States following independence of the Philippines from the United States 1 2 The United States Congress offered 800 million for post World War II rebuilding funds if the Bell Trade Act was ratified by the Philippine Congress The specifics of the act required the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines be amended The Philippine Congress approved the measure on July 2 two days before independence from the United States of America and on September 18 1946 approved a plebiscite to amend the Constitution of the Philippines Authored by Missouri Congressman C Jasper Bell the Bell Trade Act required Preferential tariffs on US products imported into the Philippines A 2 1 fixed exchange rate between the Philippine peso and the United States dollar No restrictions on currency transfers from the Philippines to the United States Parity rights granting U S citizens and corporations rights to Philippine natural resources equal to in parity with those of Philippine citizens contrary to Article XIII in the 1935 Philippine Constitution necessitating a constitutional amendment 3 The Bell Act particularly the parity clause was seen by critics as an inexcusable surrender of national sovereignty 4 The pressure of the sugar barons particularly those of President Roxas s home region of Western Visayas and other landowner interests however was irresistible 4 In 1955 the Laurel Langley Agreement revised the Bell Trade Act 3 This treaty abolished the United States authority to control the exchange rate of the peso made parity privileges reciprocal extended the sugar quota and extended the time period for the reduction of other quotas and for the progressive application of tariffs on Philippine goods exported to the United States Contents 1 1947 Philippine Parity Rights plebiscite 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External links1947 Philippine Parity Rights plebiscite editAs required by the Bell Trade Act a plebiscite was held in the Philippines to amend the Philippine Constitution to provide for parity rights between American and Philippine citizens Prior to the plebiscite the Constitutional amendment had to be approved by the Philippine Congress which required a 3 4 vote by the Philippine House and Philippine Senate 4 The 3 4 vote was obtained only by the denial of seats in the House to six members of the leftist Democratic Alliance and three from the Nacionalista Party on grounds of fraud and violent campaign tactics during the April 1946 election 4 The administration view that the amendment had passed was challenged before the Philippine Supreme Court on the grounds that approval by 3 4 of the full membership was required not 3 4 of the sitting members and was decided in favor of the administration position 4 5 The plebiscite was held on March 11 1947 and voters approved the amendment 79 to 21 Forty percent of voters participated in the plebiscite 4 Are you in favor of approving the parity amendment to the constitution allowing U S citizens the right to utilize Philippine natural resources Choice Votes nbsp Yes 432 833 78 89 No 115 853 21 11 Required majority 50 00 Total votes 548 786 100 00See also editPolitics of the Philippines Philippine electionsReferences edit Schirmer Daniel B Shalom Stephen Rosskamm 1987 The Philippines reader a history of colonialism neocolonialism dictatorship and resistance South End Press p 88 ISBN 978 0 89608 275 5 Kerkvliet Benedict J 2002 The Huk rebellion a study of peasant revolt in the Philippines second ed Rowman amp Littlefield p 150 ISBN 978 0 7425 1868 1 a b Andersen Regine 2008 Governing agrobiodiversity plant genetics and developing countries Ashgate p 218 ISBN 978 0 7546 4741 6 a b c d e f Dolan Ronald E ed 1991 Philippines A Country Study Washington GPO for the Library of Congress Shalom Stephen R 1980 Philippine Acceptance of the Bell Trade Act of 1946 A Study of Manipulatory Democracy Pacific Historical Review 49 3 University of California Press 499 517 doi 10 2307 3638567 JSTOR 3638567 via Jstor p 515 Further reading editDolan Ronald E ed 1991 Philippines A Country Study Washington GPO for the Library of Congress Drona Bert ed September 28 2012 BELL TRADE ACT Philippine Trade Act of 1946 Independence With Strings From U S Colony to U S Neo Colony External links edit Commonwealth Act No 733 Chan Robles Law Library April 30 1946 The act by the Philippine Congress acceding to the provisions of the Bell Trade Act Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bell Trade Act amp oldid 1200445470, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
