The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-07
Diplomats Disturbed.


The cablegrams announce that the cap
lure of Manila by our fleet is causing
the diplomats of Europe anxious concern.
They see in it numerous questions which
they Will be called upon to settle. They
do not believe that it is our purpose TO
retain possession of the Philippines,
and are of the opinion that VIC
would not be permitted to re-
tain them if we wanted TO- The con-
tnental diplomats seem to think that we
intend TO dispose Of them to Great Britain
for a consideration. That disposition OF
them wouldn't be satisfactory to the con
tinental Powers. In tneir opinion il would
disturb the European balance of power.
1t is quite safe to say that our govern
ment hasn't yet given a thought to the
future of the Philippines. It is yet too
anxious 10 know the exact condition in
which the battle left Commodore Dewey
and his fleet. The disposition of the ISL
ands is a matter that can be attended
to after the war with Spain is ended. In
the meantime il is not a matter of much
consequence to US what the Powers OF
Europe say relative TO our purpose in re-
spect to them. Their speculat tons inter
est Europe and do not do us any injury
OF course, if they should notify us that
they had views in respect TO tAe islands we
would become interested at once, but it is
hardly probable that we will promulgate
any policy in regard to them until Spain
expresses a willingness TO treat with Us
an ha hag ..e
demand in respect to Cuba.
The continental Powers would like to in
terfere doubtless in our war with Spain,
with the view of assisting Spain out Of
her trouble, but they are not likely TO do
SO as long as Great Britain insists upon
maintaining a strictly neutral attitude
Our dispatches this morning indicate that
they would like concerted action by the
Powers TO bring the war to close, but
that they receive no encoufa cement lrom
Great Britain. They are so put out by
Great Britain's attitude that they are pe-
ginning to hint that the latter Power is
expecting to become the possessors of the
Philippines. through our instrumentality
What Great Britain expects doesn't bind
US to any course of action. 1t is certain
that we have not held out to Great
Britain the hope of ultimately getting the
! Philippines.
No doubt the merchants of Manila, ex-
cept the Spanish, and all the natives would
be glad to have the United States retain
the Philippines. because they would be
assured then of a strong and stable gov
eminent, but it is not in accordance with
our foreign policy to retain possession Of
them. IL we should undertake to hold
them we would be drawn into the East
ern question" and to that we are very
much opposed. 1t may be, however that
/ before the Manila affair is settled We
shall have to become parties to questions
which will bring us into closer touch with
European politics than we have ever yet
been. If we should trade the Philippines
back to Spain there would not be any
ground for complaint, but if we should
decide to hold the islands, or to dispose of
them to- Great Britain, we would have
need of our trained diplomats, if we have
any. 1t seems we are better at guns than
at diplomacy. At present it looks as if the
possession of the Philippines might cause
Us TO change the foreign policy we have
followed so long and with such satisfac-
| tory results-the policy of not becoming
entangled in the foreign policies of other
| nations.