Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-25
MERE MILITARY EXPEDlENI
EXPLANATION of Gen. Otis Exclusion of the
Chinese.
1t is Not Indicative of Any Permanent
Policy Regarding the PEiiip-
pine Islands.

The State Department does not appre-
bend that any international complications
can arise out of Gen. Otis course in eX-
Gliding Chinese from entrance to the Phil
ippines as such action is said to be only
a Temporary military eXpedient, leaving
the broad general question of policy TO
be hereafter determined by Congress. More
ever II seems that the exclusion of Chinese
comes about through the adoption of mill
tary regu ations following the lines OF
United States laws and not by the detailed
enforcement of the United States stat
utes relating to Chinese exclusion.
While the same end is attained, yet
the distinction is made that Congress
is the only body which can apply United
States. law to the Philippines or any other
outlying territory, although the military
authorities may adopt temporary steps
conforming to these laws.
In Operation for Months.
1t appears as a result of the inquiry made
by the Chinese legation that Gen. Otis
exclusion policy was put into operation
some months ago. although the. Chinese
officials were officially unaware of 1t and
were proceeding on the theory that the
question still open for adjustment be
tween the two governments. 1t was not
until the legation received a cablegram from
d
ago that they became aware that the eX-
clusion policy was being enforced.
This cablegram led to an ora! inquiry Attn
State Department, and as a result of the
inquiry set on foot Acting Secretary Adee
addressed letter to the Chinese minister
here explaining the status of the affair.
The department is not in the habit Of
making public the details of its corre-
spondence so that this letter is not avail
able But it is understood that it points
out the military character of General Otis
action and makes it clear that the mni-
grafton regulations have been in operation
since last November as an exercise of his
authority governor general, and not
through any determination of the general
question of policy by the authorities in
Washington.
The letter was forwarded to the Chinese
minister. who is now at Hot Springs, Va
What further steps, if any, he will take
have not been made known, although the
opinion prevails In Chinese quarters that
he will seek to have the exclusion modified
even though it is merely a temporary mill
tary eXpedient.
The War Department officials will not
discuss the matter of Chinese exclusion in
the Philippines. 1t is learned that the
operation of this exclusion regulation I'M
der General Otis has not been attended
with any difficulties, nor had 1t aroused
any representations from Chinese sources
until the recent dispatch from the Chinese
consul at Manila.
Anxiety Of the Chinese.
The Chinese government has shown more
anxiety as to the course of this govern
ment toward the Chinese in the Philippines
than those in Cuba or other parts of the
world, mainly because the Philippines are
so near China and large, numbers of Chinese
are already established there. They carry
on the bulk of the retail trade have an ex-
tensive quarter in Manila and send out
travelling statesmen carrying packs to the
remote interior of the islands.
Some of the official reports including
those of Admiral Aewey, have paid a trib.
ute to the work reformed by the Chinese,
and Naval Constructor Hobson has recent
ly reported to theJNavy Department on the
value of Chinese labor in naval and other
commercial pursuits in the far east This
has led the Chinese officials here to believe
that the exclusion laws would not be an
piled to the Philippines, and they are still
hopeful that Gen. Otis action will not be
made the permanent policy of this govern
ment
In this connection the State Department
has received an important letter from Mr.
Williams our former consul at Manila
who still remains there in confidential
capacity He says the native Filipinos are
strongly opposed to Chinese labor. and. in
his opinion, the exclusion Of the Chinese
from the islands would materially aid in
bringing the war to a close He places the
Chinese population at 5000, which is con-
siderably more than other estimates from
official sources The letter is dated July
&c and brings the situation up to recent
date.