New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-23
A PHILIPPINE SUGGESTION.
WOULD HOLLAND BE WILLING TO TRADE
HER WEST INDIAN POSSESSIONS FOR
SOME OF THE EASTERN ISIANDS7


To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: According to THE Encyclopaedia Britannica'
the native population OF the Philippine Islands ap-
pears 10 be divided roughly into three groups
First, the Tagals. IN the north, occupying iareeS
I.uzon and to some extent Mindoro; second the
Visayas in the middle Of the group. and third' the
comparatively undeveloped peoples OF Mindanao
and the Sulu Islands In the south II seems eX-
tremely doubtful whether Philippine republic
would be able to maintain order on these central
and southern islands II what has been said is
reasonable 1t follows that II native government
should be established among the Iasas OF LuAoh'
whether under foreign protection or not II ought
not 10 expect TO control the whole archipelago. Inc
other native races might claim native governments
-, th.,r oun Iuzon has about three and a half
million inhabitants and Is thus large enough 10
form a very respectable COVE nmeht Inc o,hcr
islands OF the group seem to be 30 unoeVeiopeo as
70 reoure some direct foreign control. but SPANS
flag must come down. .
In the various discussions of the future OF tho
r,u,,,,nes the idea has sometimes been offered
tho, ue might cele the group for valuable con-
sideration to some civilized Power. This has
called forth the objection that no great ROVER
could buy them without engaging III wal wiz" o''''.
Powers This might be SO in case one ROVER ~.
rho whole archipelago, II that Power were one OF
Arst-class importance but II might De possible ~
coll q norton OF the group TO some enlightened
sooondclass Power We under no duty 10
retain all the Islands OF the group Forever ii we
place them under a reasonably eoou ci'iii|eu so
eminent we shall have done our fuii duty ana III
selecting that government VIC may "'0 ~ ~
own safety and interests .
There is one small Power or high ciVii'zauoh WIN
t,oh we have the best reasons for friendship.
and which Is In position to give US very useiui
consideration for some or the fhihpPhes. i"s
power is tho Netherlands. whose East lhdian pos
sass,ors almost touch the Philippines on the south
hold few as SpSSi n "a
West Indies and South America which would be
s,,ar,, Useful 10 the United States. not so
much from their actual commercial Vaue' Du' as
guars tee against future compIicat'ohs' IN harp
- Napazine' for June 1885, captain Mahah Calls
,,,,,on 70 the serious situation that would arise
a., go ,he Netherlands should JON the herman
-, o,,her nv force or diplomacy, an event not
,a,a,a,elv likely but by no means Impossible, or
In tho long run improbable. Such an event "ou'd
q, once Introduce Germany into the NaiiDoea" "ea
and South America and particularly wouia pace
n In c.ntrol of the valuable strategic island OF
c,r,coa and give her an influence OH the ->ich'"-
yua Canal Now. the Netherlands can nave 10
nar,,cu,ar desire TO embarrass the United states
and s,nce the annual expenses OF these Caripueah
colonies GENERALLY exceed the annual tecepts .h.if
from. there seems no Ieaso" WI, $1,000. 80 ,he
should object to transferring ,ese TOlpes TO fo
United states II we should oner Hoera' price ior
them a. oo,or,es I'm the West Indies and
south America fall into three groups Ups, rmr So
NetheTIdDOlsN
rhai. vi ,cbbnring Islands off the coast OF Nenez-
nnla and third St Eusa'ius saba ana On, nan OF ~.
War,n a little southeast from ror t Iuco Ai,o.
go mostly wild and undeveloped, WIN perhaps
miies, m ,S1ni ,housand inhabitants. Now. II so
Hnn,nns that al the southern enc OF me fhllp.
hhppens rs, "a a. removed from the Netherlands East
WAT. there lie the large ana valua Die isIaho OF
inaiss; .nea and me sulu Archipelago. These ISL
Ia comnrise about forty Thousand square MIR
atus hn,r ~ hundred thousand Inhabitants MIN
49, md the Sulus are stu only slightly deVe
oa1 and the Inhabitants are largely semi pat-
1p rn hut the natural resources are very rich,
paio' ,nere commercial possessions these lslhnus
anu ,",ohahiy much more valuable than me ~
ar Pr cnionies OF Holland IL does NOT seem ui,
roona bIe 10 suppose that the MEMBRANES wouu
teasIIano n Exchange their Caribbean possessions
pc VIZ" ,ts southern Philippines particularly since
io' ~ do,rr the Netherlands colonies wouln pc
py 81 hunched in one portion or the worln. "he'e
come D s.rs Rave been conspicuously successiuI.
f0naI'u, sn,nc may object that the colonies whlcn
feITln.pnd S,stes would get by the exchange wou,
inc NO. ~ rsIue 10 us and only burdens; Erantfn
DC % h.y night be Of small value. "0uIo IL iio' ne
tia ..r ,or the country 10 look out LOT som. IN
Deta,ahIe territories Than TO run tne 'sh % ~
PIo.,s comnlications that miEn, hIinc ~ .,
scrouss European Power shouId enter the Nhiip
hborhood? Senator Lodge mas repeateoy
beh. ~, 1s 10 purchase the Danish W. rmntrs W
aontSs,ho danger Of purchase py SONY r1 opea'
avon hui the danger in the case or w, 80 a.
nossessions Is Just as great Anu w., ou IN
lands pos'Ip1cow We have new interest IN me
IN hhesn Moreover. Holland 70 sueh gens.n
Sau;psi nation at the present UNIV 'Ha' =" s.'