RECENT FOREST PROPAGANDA IN THE PHILIPPINES 755 



island of Cebu. There was also passed a law conferring upon the 

 Bureau certain long-desired authority in reference to mangrove 

 swamps, pasture lands, and special uses in the public forests ; and, most 

 important of all, a new forest code was approved in February, which 

 simplifies and codifies all existing forest legislation, and which, in 

 many very important amendments suggested by the Bureau, puts 

 Philippine forestry on a sound, scientific basis of which few countries 

 in the world can boast. 



In bringing about the results referred to above, it would be a mis- 

 take not to assign the full credit to the faithful work of the members 

 of the Bureau in years past, but also to the campaign of propaganda 

 by circulars, speeches, editorials, etc. The part that these agencies 

 have played has undoubtedly been large, and has more than justified 

 the thought and care and money that they cost ; but they have not been 

 exclusive. In its proper and broader sense the propaganda involved 

 other agencies. Among these I attribute a very prominent place to an 

 attitude by the members of the Bureau of almost extreme, unfailing- 

 courtesy and patience toward all forest users, to correspondents and 

 to visitors, whether they be a peasant from the fields or the chairman 

 of an important committee in the assembly. In my opinion, no other 

 one thing brings such rich results in proportion to its cost in time and 

 efifort. I believe that this is true everywhere ; but it is particularly 

 true in dealing with an Oriental, who from his earliest cradle is 

 brought up in an atmosphere of courtesy which the brusque Westerner 

 is too apt to decry as "palavering" or to sneer at as an evidence of in- 

 sincerity or duplicity. It may not be sincere — in many cases it most 

 certainly is not — but even if it were reprehensible (which I most de- 

 cidedly deny), it is a condition which confronts the forester as well as 

 all others — a condition which has to be recognized if desired results are 

 to be obtained. It is a not uncommon remark among foreigners in 

 the Far East that the Oriental prefers a polite refusal to the discour- 

 teous granting of a request ; and although, like most other generaliza- 

 tions, this is only partly true, still the truth of the attitude it indicates 

 cannot be denied. The endeavor to be courteous should, of course, 

 never be allowed to influence official decision ; but it is by no means 

 necessary that it should. If it is proper to grant a request, it can be 

 ■done not only courteously, but the forest officer who grants it can 

 •show clearly that he takes a distinct pleasure in his ability to do so, 

 and this without subjecting himself to the charge of insincerity. If 

 it is necessary to refuse a request, it is generally, if not always, possible 

 to state clearly and fully the reasons which necessitate the denial. At 



