The times., 1898-12-02
PROBLEM YET UNSETTLED
Philippine Question Rests OH
Wording of the Treaty.
SENATOR FAULkNER'S VIEW
He Would Favor Making an indie
pendent Nation of the ArchipeI-
Rro-It Might Be Held Responsible
for the S2O.OOO,oOO and Perhaps
tire From the Senate.

Interrupting a deliberate contemplation
of big, lazy rings of smoke, curling up
ward from a freshly lighted cigar. him
self buried comfortably in the depths of
an easy chair of large dimensions, Sena-
tor Faulkner of West Virginia agreed
with an interviewer last night that he
might talk just a little about the past,
say nothing at all about the present, and
deliver his views upon the future, rela-
tive to the topics which now engage the
public mind.
The Senator opened vein of thought
with the opinion that the treaty of peace
with Spain may not settle the Philippine
problem, and that even after the Peace
Commission has finished its work in Paris
the disposition of these islands may yet
remain a perplexing and open question.
THAT all depends, said he, upon the
wording of the treaty, which may provide
III explicit terms that the Philippines are
to become a part of the territory of the
United States, or simply relieve Spain of
her sovereignty in the islands. Ny views
on expansion are well known. ! do not
believe we need the islands.
But, as | have remarked If the treaty
is so worded that Spain agrees to surren-
der sovereignty over and all claims to the
Philippines the problem is by no means
settled Such a treaty could, and in all
probability would, be ratified by the Sem
ate. without committing this country to
any definite policy in the East, which
means, indirectly, our European policy,
for what effects that part of the East
with which we are now concerned, affects
Europe.
After having ratified such treaty,
and thus restoring a state of peace, the
Philippine problem could be disposed
of as We see fit. 1t would be my idea to
establish in these islands an independent
form of government, much the same as
We propose to inauguate in Cuba. Hav
ing done this. We might dismiss the vex-
ing problem and withdraw from the East,
but not without indemnity.
THE proposition. -as We understand 1t
now isafor this country to pay Spain $780,
900 900 either for the Philippines or for
her REIMBURSEMENT of sovereignty over
them. which of the two is not yet clear.
There Is no objection to paying this
money to Spain. in return for her quit
ting all claims to the Philippines and IN
the event that this country establishes an
independent government in the islands
the United States can hold the govern
ment of its creation responsible for the
$50. 900, 600. and as much more. perhaps,
as may be considered reasonable indem-
nifty for our trouble and the expense to
which We have been put in freeing the
Archipelago and making a nation of it.
II think that when the war spirit has
died out-a year from now. We will say
the American people viii take another
view OF this Philippine matter. and be
less eager to acquire possession of a
country which can never be American
lied. II is impossible to Americanize a
tropical country.
Referring to crba, the senator ex-
pressed the opinion that in less than ten
years the Pearl of the Antilles will ask
TO be annexed to the United States He