The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-24

Washington, Aug. 23.-The state de-
partment has been informed through
a diplomatic channel that General Otis
has applied the Chinese exclusion laws
to the Philippines.
The information was a surprise to ths
| authorities here, both state and mill
tary. as the matter has been under con-
sideration for some time, and it was not
known that General Otis had put the
exclusion laws into force The first
| intimation in that direction came in a
| dispatch received a few days ago from
the Chinese consul at Manila telling
| the Chinese legation here that the ex-
clusion laws against the Chinese had
been applied TO the Philippines. The
dispatch was brought to the attention
Of the state department and inquiry
| made as to how the action was brought
about, as the Chinese government has
been solicitous since American military
control was established in the Philip
pines that the United States exclusion
law should not be extended over these
islands The state department knew
nothing of such an extension and made
inquiry OF the war department. The
military authorities, however, were
equally without information as to Gen
eral Otis course in this particular.
Accordingly, the Chinese officials
We're advised that any action taken by
General Otis in applying the exclusion
laws to the Philippines was not the he-
suit of instructions sent from here. but =
was doubtless due to the exercise of his
authority as governor general of the
Philippines. What further step the
Chinese authorities will take has not
been determined. as Minister WI Ting
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 depart
ment has received an important letter
from Mr.. Williams, our former consul
at Manila, who still remains there in a
confidential capacity. He says the ma
tive FilipinoS are strongly opposed to
Chinese labor, and in his opinion the
exclusion of the Chinese from the
islands would materially aid in bring
ing the war to a close. He places the
Chinese population ait $1,000. which is
considerably more than other estimates
from official sources. The letter is
dated July 20. and brings the situation
up to recent date. 1t has been turned
over to the war department to be used
in the general consideration of the ex- S
clusiOn question. The Chinese have
shown more anxiety as to the course
of this government toward the Chinese
in the Philippines than toward those
in Cuba or other parts of the world,
mainly because the Philippines are so
near Chinese territory and a. large num-
Der of Chinese are already established
there. They carry on the bulk of the
retail trade, have an extensive quartei
in Manila and send out travelling saless
men carrying packs to the remote in
terror of the islands. Some of the Of
fetal reports. including those of Adj
miral Dewey, have paid a tribute to the
work performed by the Chinese, and
Naval Constructor Hobson has recently
reported to the navy department on the
value of Chinese labor in naval and
pursuits in the far east
This has led the Chinese officials here
to believe that the exclusion laws
would not be applied to the Philippines.
and they are still hopeful that General
Otis action will be a temporary move
incident TO military occupation, and not
part of the permanent policy Of this
government toward the islands
The only action taken here as to the
Chinese exclusion laws has been in rul-
ing that they were not part Of the
laws and did not apply to
Cuba and Porto Rico