Ramos to seek bell from U.S.<\/p>\n
MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Fidel Ramos leaves
\ntoday for a meeting with President Bill Clinton to seek the
\nreturn of war booty seized by the United States a century ago.<\/p>\n
\"It is the battle of the bells,\" Ramos said at the weekend,
\nreferring to a four-day official visit to Washington and New
\nYork. \"I will do my best to exert whatever influence I have on
\nthis issue.\"<\/p>\n
Part of Ramos' mission is to convince the country's closest
\nWestern ally and former colonial master to return a historic
\nchurch bell that U.S. troops seized a century ago after invading
\nthe islands to establish their first colonial outpost in Asia.<\/p>\n
The return of the bell has become an emotional issue in a
\ncountry celebrating the 100th year anniversary of its short-lived
\ndeclaration of independence from Spain, which had held the
\nislands for three centuries until the Americans came.<\/p>\n
Ramos said he would also press for approval by the U.S.
\nCongress of long-delayed benefits for 70,000 surviving Filipino
\nveterans who fought alongside U.S. forces during World War Two.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ramos-to-seek-bell-from-us-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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