The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-06-24
Hew a Frenehman Views the American
Situation in the Philippines.
A prominent French newspaper mi

Situation IN the Philippines.
prominent French newspaper man
NJ. Henri Turot. special correspondent
Of L'Eclair and Of lie Monde lllustre,
and chief editor of lie Petite Republ
que and Lanterne. recently returned
from the Philippine Islands, by way
Of Vancouver, British Columbia, and
sailed for France last week in order to
report the result of his mission to his
papers Before sailing he was asked to
furnish the impressions he had formed
in the Philippine Islands, and he did
SO AS follows:
You have been kind enough 70 ask
FOR INV opinion of the Philippine stu
alton. | have Just passed several weeks
in the islands and will speak frankly
OH the subject During your war win
Spain openly and freely proclaimed
my sympathy for the American cause
Let this be borne in mind II criticise
matters, as my criticism will be solely
inspired by my desire to respect the
truth everywhere and always
IL will at first give you an account
Of my interviews with Gen Otis. Ad-
miral Dewey, and President Schru-
man of the Philippine Commission,
as well as with some Filipino leaders
| will then give you my personal opin
ion formed as the result of what have
seen. observed, and heard during my
stay in the Philippine Islands My
first visit, quite naturally, was to Gen
Otis. from whom | had 10 request au-
thorizltion to pass through the Ameri-
can lines was cordially received by
the General. and asked him if he
was satisfied with his campaign, and if
he hoped TO promptly terminate it,
Yes. be answered. i am satisfied
with the results achieved, and from
this time on | hope to accomplish in
the quickest manner possible the patri-
otic task confded to me by my govern.
ment Unhappily, | cannot deny that
it will take long time. This is the
!. season of rains and the sun becomes
every day more dangerous and more IA
tai than the rifles Of the Filipinos Be-
sides, it is my intention to push my
troops a little further forward and af.
terwards to make them wait for a more
favorable period During this time Of
enforced repose our fleet will be more
able to continue the operations along
the coast
SCHURMAN REMARKABLE MAN.
Il thanked Gen Otis for his graci-
Gus reception aud hastened to ask Presi-
dent Schruman for more ample infOr.
nation. Mr.. Schruman. | am happy
to have the occasion of saying, is a
very remarkable man. of high intelli-
gence and Of profound erudition. No.
body could be more worthy Of the mis-
sion, which has been intrusted to him.
Unhappilly, believe he is powerless
TO obtain satisfactory results. Later on
l will tell you why Why, I said to
him, has not America established in
the Philippines the protectorate system
like that which France has installed
in Tunis and AMMAN: II is in sub
stance a disguised annexation, and
would give absolute satisfaction. At
the same time this solution would safe
guard the pride of the Filipinos who
favor autonomy. 1t is impossible,
replied Mr.. Schruman, and | will tell
you the reason why. At Tunis there
is Bey and in AMMAN an Emperor
and your protectorate is exercised over
a stable government. Here there is
nothing Of the kind. We are in the
presence Of regular anarchy, and you
cannot establish a protectorate over a
government which does not exist.