The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-11
MUST KEEP THE PHILIPPINES.
Views of Sir Charles Dixie and Sir
Henry HaWOrth.

NEW YORK, May 10.--A dispatch to the
World from London says: Sir Charles Dixie,
when asked whether any question of in
ternational law or practice affected the
United States right to retain the Philip
pines, said None whatever. The States
will hold the Philippines by right of con-
quest. No power or powers will have the
slightest title to interfere"
But may not some power Germany or
France, for instance, bring pressure to bear
on the United States to surrender them?'
"That idea OF continental pressure I re-
gard as all moonshine. No power would at
tempt pressure unless we were in the same
boat with them, which we never would be.
Without English naval support no power
will venture upon any action in the mat
ter"
do you consider that the United States
should retain possession of the Philip
pines?"
Certainly I do. The only alternatives
are some kind Of autonomous republican
government. which would need so much
American protection that the United States
might as Well hold the islands themselves
Then there is handing them over to Japan,
but that would excite the opposition of pub
lie sentiment in the United States, Japan
being pagan nation. Another alternative
is returning them to Spain But that, too,
would excite serious opposition in the
United States and may be dismissed as out
OF the question. 1t is true that at the end
of the great war with France we gave back
all or nearly all the territory we conquered,
but that is not parallel case, as we were
ostensibly fighting for the King of France -
would the United States have to keep a
large force of troops in the Philippines"
considerable force would be required
and, of course, the United States would be
compelled to largely increase her navy"
Do you think the general effect Of the
United States retention of the Philippines
would be to bring nearer the possibility of
an Anglo-American alliance?"
1T would increase their interests in COM
about the alliance idea. as I don't believe
there ever will be an alliance between
Great Britain and the United States
Sir Henry Haworth, a leading authority on
II have no hesitation in saying that the
United States have perfect right to keep
the Philippines and under the circumstances
It Wo9l6 be both wise and proper for the
United States to keep them. There is not q
consideration of International law that
could in any way fetter sthe United States
In its absolute discretion in the matter.
There is no third party involved. The ISL
ands were discovered by Spain and her SOW
eretgnty has never been in dispute Rv the
right OF conquest, therefore, American pos
session is lndlSputable and all the members
of Parliament who are authorities to whom
l have spoken agree that the United States
should not give them up. Spain found it i'm
POSSIBLE 10 govern them in the past and
would ind the difficulty still greater in the
future II they were handed over to England
1t would provoke a multitude of difF1cuIt
questions. III Japan got them it would also
provoke great jealousies. Should the United
States annex Hawaii, together with the
philippines. these would constitute two
magnificent bases, giving the United States
ways hoped they would achieve. in the in
terests or civilization and commerce.