Evening star., 1898-07-23
The Report is Not Generally
Credited Here.
PREPARED TO MEET INTERFERENCE
Appreciation of That VIII Pre-
vent Trouble.
WILL NOT CAUSE CHANGE

The declaration IN foreign dispatches that
the powers. except Great Britain, have
come to an understanding that they will
interfere If this government takes posses
| sion OF the Philippines is not generally cred
tied here Ever since the battle OF Manila
bay there has been more or less talk OF
| this sort coming from abroad, and this re-
port has been many times repeated.
1t is given this time with a little more
circumstantiality, and 1t Is realized, Of
course, that there may be some foundation
for the statement, but IL is not believed TO
have gene so far as an agreement between
any of the powers. 1t is understood that
Germany is preparing for certain contin-
gencies. and 1t may be that the powers
have been sounded by representatives of
that government as to what they would do
If situation should develop which would
excite antagonism between Germany and
the United States.
The official and semi-official utterances
of Germany have. however been of a char
acter to aliay apprehension Of trouble In
that quarter. and it is known that this
government accepts the assurances that
have been given.
What VIII Preclude Interference.
What it is believed will preclude foreign
powers from interfering is the fact that
they all fully understand that this gov
ernment will not recognize any sort of in
reference, and that, while not expecting
that it will be attempted we are prepared
to meet it with frmness.
An appreciation of this fact proved to be
sufficient to compel all to keep hands OF
during the earlier stages OF the war with
Spain. before the powers of this govern
ment had been demonstrated. and it is
appreciated the powers will be disposed
more than before to run the risk of giving
us offense
The fact cannot be concealed, however,
that considerable attention is being given
to the strengthening of our position in the
Philippines. and that the improvement OF
our naval establishment on the Atlantic Is
probably in excess OF any necessity In deal
ing with Spain. 1t is said that our naval
force is strong enough to confront even
the naval power of Germany, and that we
are not in condition where our weakness
might invite imposition.
VIII Not Change Our Attitude.
A man whose relations with both Presi-
dent Mckinley and Secretary Day are
close said to a Star reporter today that II
not believed that the threatened for
eign interference would materialize. "one
thing you can depend on he said, is that
the course of this government will not be
influenced by any fear of foreign inter
ference. There is no phase of the situa-
ton that has not been carefully considered.
If there is any interference in the Phil
ippines there is but one source 1t could
come from, and the government Is pre-
pared to deal with it. / do not believe
however, that there will be any interfer-
ence. This government is not going TO do
anything that it is not justified in, and it
would be a very serious responsibility on
any power that should seek to make
trouble
Interference Not Expected.
Representative Eddy of Minnesota said
to Star reporter today that he did not
believe there would be any foreign inter-
ference. He said he was not in favor of
the acquisition of distant territory, but that
he thought this government would be bound
to give good government to the Philip
pines. We could not restore the islands
to Spain nor turn them over to another
country. and we would therefore be obliged
to hold possession Of them for some time.