Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-09
English Capitalists in Philippines
Favor American Possession.
RULE OF THE DONO is IRKSOME
Officials Systematically Levy Black
mail on Business Interests.
PURPOSELY CAUSE DISORDER


Correspondence of the Associated Press
Copyrighted. 1897
LONDON, June Whatever may be the
policy of the United States toward the Phil
il pine Isla-ds. the English capitalists whose
investments there give them the right to
speak with authority upon the conditions
and needs of the colony are of one mind.
Delegations of London men representing
soms of the most important interests in the
Philippines have called upon Ambassador
Hay to urge him to make representations
to his government OF their desire that the
United States retain permanent posse ssion
of the Philippine Islands.
They are agreed with the belief that in
the guarantee of a stable government the
Philippines would become a richer and even
more desirable possession than Cuba. They
agree also upon the statements that Span
ish rule is one which discourages business
enterprises and repels capital and that the
legitimate profits OF their business are
mostly absorbed by direct and indirect
brihes to Spanish officials.
Blaci&maiIed by Ruling Class.
Without liberal investments to secure the
favor of the ruling class, these gentlemen
tell the ambassador, no business operations
can be conducted under the regime of
Spain.
The position of the Philippine capitalists
is one which prevents them from making a
public declaration of their views. Should
the Islands remain under Spanish sover-
eighty that government might make condi-
tons burd ensome for business men who
We're on record as desiri1 g change and
WHO had made revelations about Spanish
misrule. They can make known their de-
sires only through secret diplomatic chan
nelS, as they have done.
The president of an important Philippine
company having its principal office in Lon
oon, VINO presented statement to the
Ambassador, discussed the question with q
Iepresc ntative of the Associated Press, but
only on condition that his name be with
held. He gave the usual recital of eXtor-
ton by the officials who go from Spain
those Islands as they go to Cuba. with the
sole purpose of acquiring as much money
as possible in the shortest time. He ridi-
cuied the suggestion that the Philippine in
surgents could be induced by the Spaniar'!s
TO form an alliance against the United
States. The natives, he declared would
welcome any power which would relieve
them from the domination of Spain. He
cid not, however, seem to place much con-
fidence in the good faith of the revolu
uonists, and incidentally remarked that he
had knowledge that more than one native
instruction had been inspired and pro-
NOTED by Spanish officials for the increased
revenues which would come to them
through the Importation of troops into the
islands to suppress the rebellion.
Natives Are TractabIe.
Under proper treatment, the islanders
although consisting of several different
races, would be entirely tractable.
The greatest difficulties the United States
would encounter in managing the islands
would come from the religious orders,
which had been accustomed to squeeze the
natives and had accumulated much valua-
bic property. The present instruction was
as much an uprising against the church
against the government, and was conduct
ed by secret society which had been or
gGniZed to oppose the priests, Il sort Of
free masonry which hao spread throus hout
the islands.
As an instance of Spanish colonial gov
ornment. he said there WaS but one road
outside of Manila in the islanl The entire
absence of public works Of all sorts was a
great check to business enterDriSeS
Careful Investigations by the most eff
hcient engineers had proven that the gold
deposits OF the Philippines were among the
richest in the world and under conditions
favorable to the development. he was sure