Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-03
erarce and the Philippines.

|
r,,nors afloat that Spain would try to
thwart our plans for occupying the
| Philippines and perhaps permanently
| nossessing them, by selling the islands
| to France or even giving them to her
IT is doubtful if these stories have
| caused any uneasiness in official cir
cles, but they have been not little dis
cussed by papers and people in general.
No doubt Spain would be very glad t.
do this, il she could, to prevent the
Philippines Formulating into our hands
But could she do it, even if France
were willing to be Il party to such
scheme? In support of the idea that
she could, it is urged that, although
we have been freely figuring upon what
disposition we should make of the
Philippines after the war, we have not
yet actually taken possession of them
and that even our blockade is con-
fined to one port or possibly two. The
most we have done, it is argued, has
been to destroy a Spanish fleet which
was lying at Manila; and on the as
sumption that, with this defence gone,
the principal seaport of the islands
must pass into our hands whenever we
are ready for it. we have taken the en-
tire possible sequal for granted. Hence
the claim is made that the cession by
the Spanish government of the Philip
pines, which is technically still their
property. would involve no infringe
ment of our international rights.
No precedents covering just such a
case as this are believed to exist. The
nearest approach to it is the case of a
merchantship which, when likely to
fall into the hands of an enemy, is
transferred to a neutral purchaser
The first diplomatic correspondence on
this subject took place during the
Crimean war. From a letter from the
British minister a Washington, 1853, is
found this citation in Cadwallader's
digest: According to the law of ma
tons, they have the right to purchase
during the war the property of bellig-
erents, whether ships or anything else;
and any regulation Of a particular
state which contravenes this doctrine
is against public Law and in mere
derogation of the sovereign authority
of all other independent states"
Wharton quotes from a letter from
Secretary Marcy to Minister Mason
under date of Feb. ~, 1856 to show
that this position with regard to the
purchase of merchant vessels has
been maintained by England, by Rus
STA aud by the United States" but
that the contrary doctrine has beea
aVoWed by France. 1t thus appears
that if the analogy holds good between
the transfer of menaced ships and
menaccd territory, We have. as Il ma
ton, placed ourselves on record az de-
Tending such a transfer, while France,
the very nation now reputed to be
negotiating, for the Philippines. il
known in black and white for the OPP
poste view Of the question.
Nevertheless. there is no reason TO
suppose that. if such a negotiation for
the cessation of the Philippines were
under way our government would ac-
cept it quietly. Although we have no:
technically possessed ourselves Of the
islands. we have made them the ohjcc-
tive of military campaign. and hence
any transfer of them at this stage can
not he considered as made in good
faith. If France having obtained thei.
title by purchase, Were to attempt to
send vessels into their principal SEA
! ports. she would find herself shut out
| by a feet of United States vessels. ana
the whole question would at once b.
opened. France does not need to he
informed of this and it is not a part of
her policy TO invite needless trouble
| with us just now. Our fleet in the
Philippines is to be greatly strength
ened and many thousand troops are
| being hurried to those islands. France
is not looking for a war with us. ami
| it may be put down as mere rumor
and nothing more that she will attempt
to help Spain out of her desperate
straits in the Philippines or elsewhere.
------
Beers place in German education is
| being recognized in Munich as four of