The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-10
A PHILIPPINE POLICY
ADVOCATED BY ENGLISHMEN
INTERESTED
ALL EXCEEDINGLY ANXIOUS
That Uncle Sam Should Keep the
Islands and Develop Their
Unquestioned Resources


Associated FTeSS special wire
LONDON, June 9.-(Copyrighted. 1898, by
the Associated Press.) Whatever may be
the policy of the United States toward the
Philippine islands, the English capitalists
whose investments give them the right to
speak upon the conditions and needs of the
islands are of one mind. Delegations of
London men, representing some of the mos,
important interests in the Philippines, have
called upon Ambassador Hay to urge him
to make representations to his govern
ment of their desire that the United States
retain permanent possession of the Philip
pines. They are agreed in the belief that
with the guarantee of stable government.
the Philippines would become richer and
even more desirable possession than they
now are. They are agreed also that the
Spanish rule is one which discourages bust
ness enterprise and repels capital, and that
the legitimate profits of their business are
mostly absorbed by direct and indirect
brides to Spanish officials. Without DELHI
crate investments to secure the favor Of
the ruling class, these gentlemen tell the
ambassador that no business operations
can be conducted under the regime of
Spain. The position of the Philippine cap
making public declaration of their views
Should the islands remain under Spanish
sovereignty, that government might make
conditions burdensome for business men
who are on record as desiring a change,
and who had made revelations about Span
ish misrule. They can make known their
desires only through secret diplomatic
channels, as they have done. The president
of an important Philippine company, hav-
ing it's principal Office in London, who pre-
scented statement to the ambassador, dis
cussed the question with a representative
of the Associated Press, but only on condi-
ton that his name be withheld. He gave
the usual recital of extortion by the Off
Gals who come from Spain to these islands,
as they go to Cuba, with the sole purpose
of acquiring as much money as possible in
the shortest time. He ridiculed the sugges-
ton that the Philippine insurgents could
be induced by the Spaniards 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 did not, however,
seem to place much confidence in the good
faith of the revolutionists, and incidentally
remarked that he had knowledge that more
than one native Instruction had been in
spired and promoted by Spanish officials
for the increased revenues which would
come to them through the transportation
of troops into the island to suppress the
insurrection.
Under proper treatment, the natives, al
though consisting of several races, would
be entirely tractable. The greatest diff
c,,Ities 1iltalv tO he encountered in manay-
ing the islands would come from the relig
ious orders, which had been accustomed 10
squeeze the natives and had accumulated
much valuable property. The present up
rising was as much an uprising against the
church as against the government, and was
conducted by a secret society which had
been organized to oppose the priests, a sort
of Free Masonry, which had spread
throughout the islands. AS an instance of
Spanish colonial government, he said
there was but one road outside Of Manila
in the island. The entire absence of pub
lie works of all sorts was great check to
business enterprises.
Careful investigation by the most eff
cient engineers had proved that the gold
deposits of the Philippines were among the
richest in the worold, and, under conditions
favorable to their development. he was
sure that the islands would surpass Aus
tralia and South Africa as a gold country.
In conclusion, this gentleman said the
American government need not be deferred
by fear of the climate from invading the
Philippines with unseasoned troops. Dur
ing residence of ten years he had known
but one epidemic of disease, and that was
not seroius one.