The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-05-05
AANILA'S FUTURE
y. Hha, Interests ne European Po,eers
Just Notr.

y. What Interests me Eppopeon Po'rers
Just No,r.
WAsHNeroN, May 4.-The French
ambassador, NJ. Jules Cambon, has re-
ceived dispatch from the foreign Of
fee at Paris stating that the French
ambassador at Madrid, NJ. Pateuotre,
has forwarded official details OF the
Spanish reverses at Manila. Mr.. Pa.
tenotre's report was based on the lat
est Spanish official advices. 1t states
that the Spanish cruisers, Reina Chris
tiana and Castillo, were totally
burned up after being set on fire by
bombs from the enemy's (American)
ships. Two Of the smaller Spanish
ships, the dispatch states, were sunk
in order to avoid falling into the hands
OF the enemy. The other Spanish
ships were half destroyed and had
taken refuge in Bakers bay.
The British embassy has received no
report of any character as to the Ma
Mia battle, so that there is no basis
for the statement that the state de-
partment has been informed by British
officials here that Manila has surren-
dered to Commodore Dewey.
Ia the absence OF specific adYices
| from Manila, members OF the dtplo
matte corps are discussing with great
interest the future course OF the
United States toward the Philippines.
They do not doubt that the islands
will be occupied by the American
forces, II, indeed, the occupation has
not already occurred. The only ques
| ton on that point is said 70 be the
number Of men Commodore Dewey can
spare from his fleet TO make a landing
/ party sufficient to hold Manila and
other points, when large garrisons OF
/ Spanish troops are there. 1t is the
| future Of the Philippines, however,
/ which most interests the foreign
| authorities here. A leading diplo-
matte official said il was unfortunate
at this iuncture that the assertion was
made by leading men here that the
Philippines would be taken and held
at least until the war ended, when
they might be sold to great Britain or
Japan. He pointed out that while this
course might be a wise one in due
time, vet its announcement now only
served to awaken European powers at
| a moment when IL was needless and
impolitic TO excite resentment in those
quarters. There was 10 principle OF
international law, he said, which kept
| a victorious nation from enjoying
the fruits of warfare by holding
territory gained in battle. lnterven-
tion by the powers Of Europe, he
DO 'nted out, was a new procedure
quite apart from international law
and based only upon the strength oi
this united action. But, he added sig
nificantly, united action often makes
international law.
The suggestion that Great Britain
would take the philippines in exchange
for the Bermudas, and other British
possessions near this country, is not re-
garded as feasible. 1t is pointed out
that the Bermudas and other Western
Indian possessions have Tar greater
| prospective value to the mother coun
try than the Philippines, owing to the
command they will have Of the Mica
raguan canal or other inter-oceaniC
waterway between North and South
America. Such canal would be 4
highway for the British commerce tC
, and from British India, II is said thai
the possession Of coaling station anC
ports near the canal are OF far mor'
concern TO England than her remote
nsular possessions in Asiatic waters
There has been no suggestion yet o
I Intervention from any foreign source
although il is felt that the occupation
Of the Philippines is more likely to de
velope a move in this direction thar
any other step thus far taken. 4
, diplomatic official Of large experience
in Asiatic countries, pointed out tina
there were circumstances connecte'
with the Philippines which woul'
make their holding by the Unite'
States more OF burden than a bene
it. lie said their population wa
made up Of Malays, Japanese, Chimes
and halfbreed Spaniards, mixed witt
I the former races, making an incongru
z GUS people impossible to assimilat
With American institutions. The statu
Of the people, he said, was far beloN
those of Cuba or Hawaii, so that OF
E jections which had been made agains
q lssimilating the Hawaians and Gu
bans would be doubly strong agains
the people OF the Philippines.