Arizona republican., 1898-12-17

to discredit the motives of the United
 States government and to place it in
 the light of real estate broker among
 the nations of the world. To. suggest
 that the United States would pay S20,-
 000,000 for the islands and then proceed
 to sell them for s2O0. 900 or any
 other large sum is an unpatriotic re-
 fection on the administration, and the
 suggestion may do more harm abroad
 than those who made it imagine. The president has not said anything
 to anybody which could by the most
 reckless construction be twisted into an
 expression favorable to the sale of the
 islands. The assertion that Japan has
 offered s2O0,000,000 for them, it is re-
 ported, is ridiculous. Japan is in no
 position to make such an offer, and it
 is not to her advantage just now to have it suggested even that she desires to buy the islands
 The European powers now stTug gling for a share of the eastern trade are jealous of Japan and would resent any attempt on her part to acquire foothold in ghe Philippines.
 It is said at the Japanese legation here that before even intfma.ing at such great possibilities the Japanese government would have to obtain per- mission from the diet. No policy making the payment of so great a sum could be entered on without that for mality, and the submission of the prop osition to the diet would have given it worldwide publicly. In any event, it is added at the legation chat Japan is in no condition fiUancis121 IiIsli= .. s'=Se =a f4le purchase of the fy Her lase budget showed a deficite9$ S5V .O0O, JUL Moreover, the Japanese interest," ID Ine islands is not great. England has Tar greater interests and would notR see L1S islands go to Japan without protest China, Russia, Germany and France would also interfere.
 The report which is so thoroughly however, may have the eff feet of bringing to light some of the inside history of the last few months, which is likely to be interesting The for the statement that Japan desires only that the United States re- tain control of the Philippines is un1m- peachable. That desire has been com municated officially to the United States administration and certain in formation given to the United States by Japan when the negotiations be- tween the United States and Spain were approaching a crisis, it is believed in diplomatic circles had a material infiu- snce on the action of the government at w dSllnSJ0n.
 Before the peace commission had be- gan it's laoors, and while Judge Day was secretary of state, the Japanese government, at a time when such ac- ton on its part might have been mis- construed intimated as strongly as one nation could to another the wish that he Philippine islands be maintained lnder the control of the United States government.
 The other provisions of the com muni- :ation are not divulged, but it is said Japan even went so far as to make the statement that should complications s lrise in following out that policy, the United States could count on Japan as m ally.
 That is not all. The policy of Japan 70 far as the future of the Philippines S concerned, it is said unofficially, is 0 preserve a government under United States control. To that end the Japa- lese government has signified its will ngness to enter into an arrangement with the United States to guarantee a table government on the islands. Ja- ,an's friendly interests could hardly 70 farther, but the United States ad- is not likely to accept any uch offer, however we'll intended.