Evening star., 1898-12-09
IT IS NOT IN VIEW
Denialof Reported Contemplated Sale
of the Philippines.
VIEW IN CONGRESSIONAL CIRCLES
Regarded as Inconsistent With the
Presidents Known Sentiments.
NO POLICY YET LAID DOWN

Emphatic denial is made today by the
best informed authorities of story that
the President has contemplated the plan
of selling the Philippines. The President
has never given utterance to any such
thought, and every member of the cabinet
vouches for this. On the highest authority
in the State Department it can be stated
that Japan has made no proposition to give
the United States $500 00Oo,OUO for the Philip
pines. Nor has Japan conveyed any intima-
ton to this government that she would like
to have the islands. Japan is well prepared
financially. but she is not well off as to
pay that price for islands
1t is not President McKinleys method to
deal in speculation and to talk about
matter before it reaches him IN form for
action. The question of the disposition of
the Philippines is a long time off and the
inclination of the administration, If any
exists at this time IS to keep the islands
as a part of the territory Of the United
States The plan, it is said, involves moth
ing but the retention of the islands under
military control until sufficient information
is secured for the President to make rec
OmmendatfOn on their future and for Con-
gresS to take action.
The Presidents closest friends have never
heard word from him further than this.
and it is doubtful if any one man has
heard this much. The President we'll
knows that the islands are not yet in the
possession of the United States, and cab
met members pointed that out today as
reason for the impossibility of even shallow
talk as to the sale of the islands
The suggestion that the President has IN
contemplation a plan for the sale OF the
Philippine Islands to Japan is not received
with credence in congress sional circles. 1t
is looked upon as a proposition not con-
sistent with the Presidents S known humani
tartan sentiments, and as speculative
1N1tHTt TtfNy JyiH C.tl
greater.
Conversations which men in Congress
have had with the President confirm the
belief that no definite policy as to the dis
position 20 be made of the Philippines has
yet baen adopted by the administration.
Men who have talked very fully with the
President say that he is not Withholding
any plans that have been developed for
dealing with the ques zion, but is purpO3Cly
holding off from committing himself, eveh
in his own mind In advance Of thorOugn
investigation. He has mada 1t plain that
he cOntemplates with some anxiety the re-
spCnsibilties and difficulties attending the
annexation of the group Of islands, but
does not at this time see how these re-
SpouSihilties can be avoided.
He shows himself to be ready to listen
to any suggestions on the subject
that thoughtful and responsible nlen
have to make. and he has express
ed the hope that individual members
of the House and Senate would give the
question IIflE btSt lNbUS1t tlt"lilit. II az ii
patriotic, not a party, question, with the
view that the solution of the problem may
be such as TO serve the best interests of
the government. 1t is said >nat at this
time he has no views the adoption OF which
ne desires to force upon Congress, but that
he wants enough time taken for the con-
sideration of the subject to as far pos
Slbe insure quite general cooperation IN
some plan that shall hereafter be decided
on as the result of a thorough inYesA6h~
ton.
1t is said that his ambition is TO have
such solution of the problem as will
stand the test of time.
AS early last summer, while the war
was still in progress. and when DtWey's
victory had recently been won, there was
considerable speculation among sena .ors
who interest themselves in international
questions, as to the possibility of this coun-
try holding the Philip mes at the conclu-
sion Of the war and then trading them to
Great Britain for her possessions in the
West Indies. Since then there has been
no discussion of this suggestion, and The
idea of selling the islands for cash does
not appear to be entertained in any re-
sponsible quarter