The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-24
Otis EXCLUDES THE CHINESE
APPLIES THE Excl USION LAWS TO
THE PHILIPPINES.
Washington Officials surprised-No
Order Sent for Such an Act First fnti-
nation of the Generals Step Sent by
Chinese Consul at Manila to the Lega-
ton nt Washington.

Washington, Aug 23.--The state de-
partment has been informed through a
diplomatic channel that General Otis
mas applied the Chinese exclusion laws
to the Philippines. The information
was surprise to the authorities here,
both state and military, as the matter
has been under considerable for some
time and it was not known that Gen.
eral Otis has put the exclusion act into
force. The first intimation in that di-
rection came in a despatch received
few days ago from the Chinese consul
at Manila, telling the Chinese legation
here that the exclusion laws against
Chinese had been applied to the Phil
ippines. The despatch was brought to
the attention of the state department
and inquiry was made as to how the
action was brought about as the Chi
nese government has been most solicit
GUS since American military control
was established in the Philippines that
the United States exclusion laws should
not be extended over the islands. The
state department knew nothing of such
an extension. and made inquiry of the
war department The military authori-
ties, however, were equally without in
formation as to General Otis course in
this particular.
Accordingly the Chinese officials were
advised that any action taken by Cen
eral Otis in applying the exclusion laws
to the Philippines was not the result of
instructions sent from here, but was
doubtless due to an exercise of his au-
thority as governor general of the Phil
iy,ri bot f,1r ,+a, +bo
nese authorities will take has not been
determined as Minister Wu Tung Fang
is out of the city for a few days. There
is little doubt, however. that he will
seek to have General Otis order held in
allegiance until the authorities here pass
upon the general question which has
been under consideration between the
two governments. In this connection
the state department has received an
important letter from Mr. Williams, the
former consul at Manila. who still re-
mains there in a confidential capacity. |
He says the native Filipinos are strong
1y opposed to Chinese labor, and in his |
opinion the exclusion of the Chinese |
from the islands will materially aid in |
bringing the war to close. He placed |
the Chinese population at $4,000, which |
is considerably more than other esti-
mates from official sources. The letter
is dated July 25. 1t has been turned |
over to the war department to be used
in the general consideration of the ex-
clusion question.
The Chinese government has shown
more anxiety as to the course of this
government toward the Chinese in the
Philippine than toward those in Cuba
or other parts of the world, mainly be-
cause the Philippines are so near China.
They carry on the bulk of the retail
trade, have an extensive quarter In Ma
nila, and send out travelling statesmen,
carry packs, to the remote interior of
the islands. Some Of the official re-
ports, Including those of Admiral Dew
ey have paid tribute to the work per-
formed by the Chinese and Naval Con-
structor Hobson has recently reported
to the navy department on the value of
Chinese labor in naval and commercial
in the far east. This has led
the Chinese officials here to believe that
the exclusion law would not be applied
to the Philippines and they are still
hopeful that General Otis action will
be temporary move incident to mill
tary occupation, and not part of the ,
permanent policy of this government
the island. The only action
taken as to the Chinese exclusion law
is in the ruling that they were not part
of the immigration laws and did not ap-
ply to Cuba and Porto Rico.