Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-06
DISCUSS the
PROPOSITION
For a Trade of Islands With
Great Britain.
VIEWS OF THE STATESMEN
While the Exchange Would be Desir-
able it is Not Known That
it Can be Effected.

New York, April ga special to the
Herald from Washington says: Public
men here are discussing with unabated
| interest the proposition that the United
States and England enter into an agree
ment by which the United States shall
turn the sovereignty of the Philippines
over to Great Britain in return for the
British West Indies.
IT is apparent that such an exchange
would be very popular in the United
States and the only question in the minds
of most of the men with whom your cor
espondent has talked is whether Great
Britain could be induced to part with
her West Indian possessions. 1t is sug
gested however that the possession of the
Philippines would give Great Britain
such an advantage in the far east where
the rivalry between European nations for
trade is SO sharp that she might consid-
er the islands much more valuable than
her West Indian possessions can possibly
be.
1t is believed that Great Britain would
insist on retaining possession of some Of
the strongest strategic points in the
West Indies, but the United Sta tes would
be perfectly willing to have her do so,
while this country would retain a strong
naval base in the Philippines. Represen-
tative Newlands of Nevada. a member of
the committee on foreign affairs, says he
is heartily in favor of the proposition to
exchange the American interest in the
Philippines for the English possessions in
the West Indies.
II do not know how the proposition
came up or do / know that England
would consent to such an exchange as is
suggested he said. For my part, I
have always contended that if we pro-
pose to enter upon a policy of expansion,
the most desirable field for us to enter is
directly south of US, in the West Indies.
If we are gong to expand we should eX-
pand by taking as much territory that
we can obtain that rs contiguous to our
own country. | have never believed and
am not prepared to believe now that 1t is
the intention of the present adminiStra-
ton to enter upon a policy of permanent
expansion in the Philippines. That ter
rltOry is too remote to be of practicable
profit to us and it will take several gen.
erations to teach the people of those iss-
lands to understand and appreciate our
form of free government.
ent condition of affairs exists. The peo-
pie in the West Indies are to a certain
extent familiar with our system of gov
ernment and our business institutions
SO that they could readily adapt them
selves to our ways If the occasion requir-
ed them to exist under a free government.
OF course what I am saving is purely il
speculative way. for I have not the
slightest idea that England would con-
sert to exchange her valuable West In
dian possessions for the uneXplOred and.
to my mind. uncertain commercial ad-
vantages supposed to prevail in the Phil
ippines. From a practical standpoint and
in the interest of the American people I
have no hesitancy in saying that the
En elish possessions in the West Indies
would he far more profitable to us COM
meIciallv and to safeguard us in case
of a foreign war, than the far-aWay Phil
ippine islands,
Senator McComas Of Maryland was
among the callers at the whiteh ouse to-
day. He is not inclined to regard SER
iously the proposition to exchange the
British islands in the West Indies for the
Philippines
Il have seen the suggestion made in
the Herald" he said. but am quite sure
that the subject has never been present
ed to either government in official form,
hence it is hardly debatable. 1t is not
-
an exchange even if it should be propos-
ed in the regular channels of diplomacy.
She fully appreciates the commercial and
the strategic value of her West Indies
territory and 1t is preposterOus to even
imagine that she would be willing to part
with her islands in exchange for the Phil
lppires. I have never heard the subject
in administration circles and T
do not consider such an exchange as a re-
mote possibility"
EX-Member of Congress McCreary OF
Kentucky who was chairman of the COM
mittee on foreign affairs when the demo-
Gratis were last in control of the house. |
discussed the suggestion of an exchange
of territory between England and the
United States, while at the white house
today.
'The proposition for thesUnited States
to transfer her interests in the Philip |
pines to England" he said, "in return for
the REIMBURSEMENT of the queens sover- |
eighty over certain islands in the West !
Indies is very interesting question. 1t |
is subject which | have not heard ad- |
vanced until saw it in the Herald. |
am aware that England is very enter |
prising in her efforts to extend hcr trade |
and broaden her territorial possessions. |
Whether she would he willing to give her
possessions in the West Indies |
in exchange for the Philippines is ques- |
ton am not prepared to answer. We are |
told that England desires to extend her
trade In the far east. For that matter |
she believes in reaching out in every di- !
rection when it is thought to be to her |
interest to do so. Her possessions in the |
set Troa1p hnv oil haa ArSn \