Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-05-16
OUR LATEST PROBLEM.
The Final Disposition of the
Philippine Islands.
GREAT POWERS ARE PUZZLED.

Vast EItensio Of Commerce and of Ter
ritory For the United states-Conti-
mental CbanceIIeries Believe a Transfer
of the Islands to England Only a Re
mote Possfbility-f the War Is Pro-
longed, the United State. Might Have to
Hold Them As Security For Debt.
Admiral Dewey's victory at Manila
brings the European powers face TO face
with another aspect of the Hispano-
American war. All things considered,
it is probably the most important as
peet.
In the fate of Cuba the powers are
only indirectly interested. Long ago
official Europe made up its mind that
Cuba was lost TO Spain, and that even
if the United States did not acquire the
island the American would always pre-
dominate in any system Of government
there established. Moreover, except as
American intervention in Cuban affairs
might pave the way for intervention in
the affairs of other islands in the west
ern Atlantic now under European SOW
ereignty, it has not pressed upon any
European chancellery as a matter of vi
tai importance.
With the Philippines the question is
radically different. The islands are
part of Asia, and any transfer Of sover-
eighty over them or of the commercial
predominance hitherto exercised under
Spanish influence must entail farreach
ing consequences. The blunt advice of
English newspapers to occupy the is
lands and hold them by force of con-
quest is extremely irritating to Ger
many, France and even Russia.
It has all along been foreseen that the
Spanish system is Fastening TO a fall,
and that Spain, from power having
large colonial interests, is doomed to
shrink to a minor state with purely do
mestic concerns. With this in prospect
the powers having special interests in
eastern Asia had been calculating as to
the final disposition of SPANS terrific
ries there, and the question Of the fate
of the Philippines had been thoroughly
discussed in all its bearings except an
American annexation. That was not
dreamed of
From this moment the point of cru
cial interest will be the development of
the American policy at Manila. Europe
is asking whether the United States
wishes to make a departure from the ira
ditions under which hitherto it has re-
manned exclusively an American power.
1t is asking whether, even against its
wishes, the United States might not be
compelled to enter on IA policy alien to
those traditions. 1t realizes that Spain
will never be able to pay the war debt
she will owe the United States except
by cession of territory, and the ques-
ton is asked where, except in the West
Indies, would cession be practicable
The Canary islands, off the west
coast of Africa, have always been covet |
ed by France, and Spain would have |
coded them TO France long ago but for |
Great Britain's opposition. England |
would have gone TO war in week to |
prevent any such deal as that. Just now |
her relations with France in the Niger |
region are much strained, and Lord Sal |
isbury, under the influence of Mr.. |
mberlain. is pushing the French for
long as the Canaries remain Spanish |
cause of serious dispute in western Eu- |
rope is eliminated, and it Is not believed
at any foreign Office that the United
States would care TO assume the vexa-
lions of title to the Canarles even IL
Spain acquiesced.
Tho Philippines are clearly the sec