Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-05
DISCUSSING THE PHILIPPINES.
European Powers Want to Know What the
United States viii Do With Them.
y. r. Coudert Says the Latter VIII rroo-
ably Hold Them Only TIL War
Indemnity is Paid.


ambassador NJ Jules Cambon. has re-
ceived dispatch from the foreign
office at Paris stating that the French
ambassador at Madrid, NJ. Patenotre
has forwarded official details OF the
Spanish reverse at Manila, based on me
latest Spanish advices. This report
Maria Christina and Castillo were
stated that the Spanish cruisers Reina
totally burned up after being set ON
fire by bombs from the enemys Amer
ican) ships. Two smaller ships, the DIS
patch stated. were sunk In order 70
enemy. 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 Man
fla battle so that there Is no basis Tor
the statement that the state depart
ment has been informed by British OH,
cials here that Manila has surrendered
to Commodore Dewey.
In the absence of specific advlces
from Manila. members OF the dlplo-
matte corps are discussing with great
interest the future course of the Unit
ed States toward the Philippines They
do not doubt that the Islands VIII be
occupied by the American forces, II IN
deed the occupation haA not already
occurred.
The only question on that point ls
dore Dewey can spare from his iieet TO
make IN a landing party sufficient to
hold Manila and other polnta, when
large garrisons of Spanish troops are
there IT Is the future of the Philip
pines, however, which most interests
the foreign authorities here AS to
this a leading diplomatic official said II
was unfortunate at this juncture 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 he sold to
Great Britain or Japan. He pointed
out that while this course might be a
wise one. In due time. yet Its announce
ment now only served to awaken the
European powers at moment when II
was needless and impolitic to excite
resentments in those quarters,
There was no principle of interna
tional law. he said. which kent Vie
torious nation from enjoying the fruits
OF warfare, by holding territory gained
In battle.
Intervention by the powers OF Eu-
rope. he pointed out. was new pro-
cedurc, quite apart from international
law and based upon only the strength
OF this unltde action.
But. he added, significantly, united
squadrons often make international
law. The suggestion that Great Brit
ain would take the Philippines In ex-
British possessions near this country,
Is not regarded as feasible. 1t liz point
ed out that the Bermudas and other
British West Indian possessions have
far greater prospective value to the
mother country than the Philippines.
owing to the command they will have
of the NIcaraguan canal or other
inter-oceanic waterways between
North and South America. Such
canal would be highway for the
British commerce to and from British
India and 1t Is said that the possession
of coallng stations and ports near the
canal are of far more concern to
England than her remote insular pos
sessions In Aslatic waters.
There has been no suggestion yet of
Intervention from any foreign source,
although 1t Is felt that the occupation
OF the Philippines IL more likely to
develope move In this direction
than any other step thus far taken.
A diplomatic official of long expert
ence In Aslatic countries pointed out
that there were circumstances con-
nected with the Philippines which
would make their holding by the Unit
ed States more of burden than BEN
eft. He said their population was made
up OF Malays, Japanese, Chinese and
half-breed Spaninrds, mixed with the
formers races. making an homogeneous
people impossible to assimlate with
people. he said, was far below that of
Cuba or Hawaii.
The understanding that Congress
would eliminate the tonnage tax from
the war tariff bill gives much satisfac-
tion Mt the embassies. and legations,
particularly those of Great Britain.
France and Germany. The ambassa-
doris from all these countries have re-
ceived instructions to urge the ex-
IRENE severity of this tonnage tax upon
British. French and German commerce
coming to American ports. II was
stated by one diplomat that. in the case
of the big ship Kaiser Wilhelm der
Crosse. the tonnage tax would amount
to $lI.500 per year. against 80 800 at
present IT was remarked in this con-
nectlon that II was rather strange to
ask foreign governments to adopt neu-
trality DEGREES and at the same time
ask them to share In paying the cost of
the war.
The Japanese minister Mr.. Hoshi.
WINS notified by the foreign Office at
Toxic last night that decree of neu-
trality had been issued.
He has so informed the state de-
partment. The dispatch does not give
the terms of the decree. 1t serves to
close Japanese ports rather sooner than
was expected.
f. r. CoUDERT'S VIEW.