Ramos to seek bell from U.S.

Ramos to seek bell from U.S.

MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Fidel Ramos leaves
today for a meeting with President Bill Clinton to seek the
return of war booty seized by the United States a century ago.

"It is the battle of the bells," Ramos said at the weekend,
referring to a four-day official visit to Washington and New
York. "I will do my best to exert whatever influence I have on
this issue."

Part of Ramos' mission is to convince the country's closest
Western ally and former colonial master to return a historic
church bell that U.S. troops seized a century ago after invading
the islands to establish their first colonial outpost in Asia.

The return of the bell has become an emotional issue in a
country celebrating the 100th year anniversary of its short-lived
declaration of independence from Spain, which had held the
islands for three centuries until the Americans came.

Ramos said he would also press for approval by the U.S.
Congress of long-delayed benefits for 70,000 surviving Filipino
veterans who fought alongside U.S. forces during World War Two.