The San Francisco call., 1898-05-08
Administration Perplexed as to What Will Be Done
 With the Philippines.
International Questions Raised May Prove Difficult to Solve .
 and Cause Trouble.

NEW YORK, May 7.-The Washing con correspondent of the Herald sends the following: President Mckinley and Congress are face to face with the question of what shall be done with the Philippine Islands. Rear Admiral Dewey's victory has completely broken Spain's power over her former colony, and the United States is responsible for the government of the islands per manently, or until they are turned over to some power capable of estab- fishing and maintaining a stable gov ernment-
 Until actually confronted with the problem which now presents itself, few public men have given much thought to its solution, and the consequence is that few of them are now prepared to express any decided opinion as to what the policy of the Government ought to be. The international questions raised by the taking of the Philippines may prove difficult of solution, and many of the public men with whom I have talked are of the opinion that it might be more difficult for the United States to let go of the islands than to retain them. No one believes it will be prac- ticable to give the islands back to Spain, even in return for a heavy war in demnity.
 Spanish rule in the Philippines was fast tottering to it's fall when Admiral Dewey utterly annihiliated it. Even if Spain could raise money enough to pay the indemnity she would be powerless to re-establish her authority over the rebellious inhabitants of the islands. Any extension of the influences of one European nation in the Orient is re- garded so jeaIously by all the other powers that it may prove to be imprac- tica able for the United States to turn the islands over to any European power without endangering a worldwide war. Less friction would probably be caused if this country should permanently held the islands.
 The authorities here understand very we'll that Great Britain and Japan would welcome the United States in the Philippines. Japan is particularly anX- ious to have the United States retain the islands. The Japanese Government has taken a very strong ground against any European nation obtaining a foot hold in Chinese territory opposite the newly acquired Japanese possession of FormOsa, and it is believed that with the United States in possession of the Philippines, just to the south of For mOsa, the Japanese position would be greatly strengthened.
 It is foreseen that if the United States is to retain the islands it means that this country is to pursue com mercial and financial policy along the same lines as those of Great Britain, and that it's natural tendency would
 
 United States, Great Britain and Japan. It is no wonder, with all these perplexing problems and possibilities thrust upon them, that public men are slow in making up their minds as to the policy which this country ought to pursue When l called on Senator Davis of Minnesota, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Rela- tions. this afternoon, l found him hard at work in his library with a table full of books and maps relating to the Phil ippine Islands and the Orient. The Senator talked interestingly about the islands, their inhabitants and their re- sources, but he asked to be excused from saying at this time as to what the policy of the United States should be in regard to them. He said he had not been able to make up his mind fully on the question up to the pres ent and. owing to his official position, he thought II WOuIQ De uHNISe 4OI illul to express any hastily formed opinion for publication.
 Representative Pearson of North Carolina. one of the Republican mem bers of the House Committee on For eign Affairs, said to me: T do not be- Heve that the United States Govern nnent will hold the islands any longer than may be necessary to secure pay ment of war indemnity from Spain. One thing of which l am firmly con- vinced is that the events of the past ten days will insure the building of the Nicaraguan canal"
 Senator J. B. Foraker of Ohio said: 'In my opinion there is but one course to pursue, and that is very simple one, raise the stars and stripes over the islands and keep them there. We have come by them fair and honestly enough, and now that we have them it would be foolish to give them away. They are worth far more to us than we could ever get for them and the sooner this country realizes that it is power among the nations of the world and wants colonial possessions the better"