20
THE UNITED STA|ES AND THE PHILIPPINES,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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“Luzon outside of Manila and Cavite, where “alone American jurisdiction prevails, that he is preserving law and order among the people, that he has a regular ministry, with its departments of foreign affairs, in- terior, war, finance, &c., a carefully and an army of 30,000 men equipped with organized congress of some 100 members,
[January 14, 1899.
"modern rifles and ammunition. Brought study the aerican people when they
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"back to Luzon by the consent of Admiral DEWEY and co-operation of Consuls-Generel "WILDMAN and PRATT, and Consul Wit
LIAMS, he has gradually strengthened his position after co-operating with the Am- "erican forces for the capture and expulsion "of Spanish arms, until now he is a strong "factor in the settlement of the future "control of the islands. It is my belief "that if he is approached with good judg. "inent and diplomacy on the part of "Americau officials, a conflict with him can "be avoided, and peace and prosperity es- "tablished for ever among the natives under "American jurisdiction. I have confidence "that with such men us Admiral Dewey "and Major-General Oris directing affairs "the difficulties of the situation will be
we
be strong or not, certain it is that the protectionists are in favour of inaking of the Philippines a close preserve for Am- erican trule, and the experience of the French in Saigon in
comparison with that of England in Hongkong and Singapore, effect on the which Mr. BARRETT S
says will have an
will we fear not avail to dissipate protectionist prejudices. Assuming the Philippines to become Ameri- can territory, then, this important question would have to be decided by the electorate, and it is quite possible the protectionists might carry the day, even though the decis ion might be inconsistent with America's desire for an open door in China. The deve- lupment of the Philippines night proceed as well under a protectorate as under annexa- ion, and, setting aside questions of senti- ment, the real point that would be at issue in a war between the Americans and Fili pinos would be the right of the former to establish exclusive advantages for them- selves.
A CRITIC OF LORD CHARLES BERESFORD.
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(Daily Press, 10th January.) From news reseivel by way of Australia" we learn that a month ago A Amiral Dewey: reported to the Unite! States Government that it was not likely the Pailipines would submit peaceably to American rule, and that the attitu-le of AGUINALno, the Insurgen t leader, was very ugly. Since then we have hal direct telegrams notifying the despatch of reinforcements from the States and that if AGUINALDO refuses to disarm and dis- band his forces within a reasonable time an attempt will be made to arrest him. The Americans cannot be congratulated ́on their
management of affairs in the Philippipes
up to the present point, apart from the actual fighting which they have had to do.
The officers in command are either much better fighters than administrators or in their latter capacity they have been too much hampered by in- structions froni Washington to be able to embark on a clearly defined line of policy can hardly any longer share Mr. BARRETT'S happily solved.” On the latter point we adapted to the daily varying circumstances confidence. If the Americans are deter- of an unusual situation. The capture of mined to refuse self-government to the
(Daily Press, 11th January.). Manila was deferred, without any ostensible Filipinos they will have to subjugate | signed
In another column we publish a letter reason, until after the signature of the them by what
Wideawake in which the writer. treaty of peace, and America was thereby long and sanguinary war. As Mr. BAR CHARLES BERESFORD und supports
fear will prove a boldly attacks the policy proposed by Lord placed at a moral disadvantage in the pub- RETT says, the Filipinos have an army formal recognition of spheres of influence. the opinion of Europe. The same inexplic of thirty thousand able procrastination has characterised their modern rifles, and although their total proposals there are two inaccuracies in his men equipped with Before proceeding to discuss" Wideawake's" action with regard to Iloilo. Instead of lack of sea power would place them at a dis- letter that should be pointed out. He entering upon the occupation as soon as the advantage in securing fresh supplies from credits Lord CHARLES BERESFORD with.. eigning of the treaty of peace declared the abroad whole of the Philippines au American arsenals of their own and would for some
we infer that they have set up saying that there was no trade in Man- possession, and when their appearance time at all events be able to suply them that there was no Russian trade in Man- churia. What his lordship did say was Would have
been welcomed by both selves. Having regard to the nature of the churin. Our correspondent also says that Spaniards and Insurgents, they waited until country and climate the destruction. of France has successfully defeated an applien- the latter had driven the Spaniards out. this army of thirty thousand men would re- The Insurgents being then in possession, quire a prolonged military effort on the from Kowloon to Canton. France
tion for a concession for a British railway- and having achieved, as they considered, part of America. Would the country be against the granting of such a concession, protested their indepen lence, were naturally reluctant | prepared to support that effort? to welcoine a new set of masters. The
but unsuccessfully, when the railway result is that the American vessels are now pared at the present time to accept an
The Filipinos would, we believe, be pre-in question is un lertaken it will be as a lying off the port awaiting further orders American protectorate with its consequent the way we may proceed to consider British enterprise. Having thus cleared American control of the foreign relations of the country and American or interni the general attack on China's Irish advisers, "Wideawake's" proposals. Passing over tional jurisdiction over foreigners resident which may be taken for what it is worth, in the islands. Such a protectorate would we come to the question of Russia's sphere internėcine disturbance or foreign aggres‐ | minus of the great Siberian railway at seem to offer a sufficient guarantee against of influence in Manchuria. With the ter sion, while the conduct of the Filipinos Talienwan it is inevitable that Russian in- during the past eight months justifies fluence in Manchuria must be predominent. confidence heing reposed in them the extent of allowing them autonomy
to The province may remain nominally Chinese. under these guarantees. The ideas of the nations on equal terms, but amongst the and its trade may continue open to all United States with regard to the future of foreign residents Russian subjects will be in the country have not as yet been clearly a majority and they will give the tone to the formulated beyond the declaration that the scial and business life of the community. island are to be considered American templation to territory. At first it appeared to be in con- similar lines to an English Crown Colony; govern the country on more recently the admission of the inhabit unts to the full rights of American citizen- ship has been mooted. A protectorate, ever, would be better than either at would avoid any possible
before landing the troops, while the Insur- gents are daily strengthening their position, both morally and materially. Then, again. the Insurgents in Luzon brought their civil and military organisation to its present state of perfection with the_moral if not formal support of America, and to ask them now to break it up like a worn-out plaything cannot fail to be galling to a people who are not devoid of spirit and who are experiencing the first sensations of what they regard as political emancipation. There is still hope that wise councils on both sides may lead to a peaceful arrange ment, but at the moment a conflict appears extremely probable.
The present position of the Insurgents in Luzon was concisely set out by the Hon. John Barrett, late American Minister to Siam, and who since he left Bangkok has paid along visit to the Philippines, in an address on the affairs of the Far Fast delivered the other day
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it
Tokyo under the auspices of the Im-might arise over the tariff now tells us
perial Educational Society. Speaking of
to be AGUINALDO Mr. BARRETT said :—
-"While imports would be
As
گیر
Wideawake" speaks of the open door as a variously define I idea, and the same might be BERESFORD told us in his Shanghai speech said of spheres of influence. Lord (HARI.ES that the door in Manchuria had been. shut, absolutely shut; Mr. CHAMBERLAIN it has been kept open, though not without difficulty. Evidently they cannot both be thinking of the saine thing. So also with regard to spheres of influence; many, including Lord Charles BiRESFORD and our correspondent, appear to regard the establishment of a sphere of influence nexation of territory. How wide a distance s equivalent to the formal an-
may separate the two ideas, however, may be seen by a glance oat Egypt, which is
that it is assumed that under a protectorate admitted from all cannot espouse his cause nor sympathize countries on equal terins. In his Tokyo with his efforts,—if he shall m ke them,-
address already referred to Mr. BARRETT to resist American authority, I believe said that if he were culilly asked what “that he is deserving of far more ere lit and would be the ultimate policy of the Unite! “consideration than are usually given him States in its Asiatic possessions he would say
Perhaps the best appreciation of his ability | that of fair trade to all, but he would not undoubtedly a sphère of British influence,
nd the strength of his organization can deny that from the standpoint of the pr về attained by my stating that he is prac-tectionist there may be strong arguments of tically governing the entire island of discrimination. Whether the arguments
though there has been u
exation of
the country nor even the declaration ofa protectorate. The destiny of Russia is
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