The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-06
WILL ENGLAND TRADE?
Exchange of Philippines For West
Indies Under Discussion


Herald from Washington says:
Public men here are discussing with
unabated interest the proposition tnal
the United States and Great Britain
enter into an agreement by winch the
United States shall turn the sovereignty
of the Philippines over to Great bfiuSliii
in return for the British West Indies
1T is apparent that such an exchange
would be very popular in the Ohl tsa
States and the only question: IL -
minds of most of the men with MAOi ~
your correspondent has TAXED -
whether Great Britain could De lHduC 1@.
TO part with her west 1hulan pO9 ST.
sions 1t is suggested, however ~
the possession of the Philippines WouIo
give Great Britain such an adEahVase
in the far east where the rlVa1Iy DC
tween the European nations Tor lIaue
- ga sharp that she might consider
these islands much more valuable thah
her West Indian possessions possibly
can be. ,..
would insist on retaining possession OF
some of the strongest strategic points
in the West Indies, but the united
States would be perfectly wiling 10
have her do so. while this country would
retain strong naval base in the Phil
REPRESENTATIVE Newlands of Nevada,
a member of the committee on foreign
affairs says he is heartily in FAVOR OF
the proposition to exchange the amer
can interest in the Philippines Tor the
English possessions in the west 1nuleS-
- L do not know how the proposition
came up, nor do 1 know that England
would consent to such an exchange as
is suggested, he said. For my part, L
have always contended that II we IN
tend to enter upon a policy of eXpan-
sion, the most desirable field for us to
enter is directly south of US, in the
West Indies. If we are going to expand,
we should expand so as to take in as
much additional territory as we can OBJ
tain that is contiguous to our own
country.
- have never believed and I am not
prepared to believe now, that it is the
intention of the present administration
to enter upon a policy of permanent eX-
pansion in the Philippines. That terri
tory is too remote to be of practical
benefit to US and it will take several
generations to teach the people of those
islands to understand and appreciate
our form of free government.
d" In the West Indies an entirely diff
ferent condition of affairs exists. The
people in the West Indies are to a GER
tain extent familiar with our system of
government and our business institu-
lions, so that they could readily adapt
themselves to our way if the occasion
required them to exist under a free
government.
of course, what I am saying is
purely in a speculative way, for have
not the slightest idea that England
would consent to exchange her valuable
West Indian possessions for the unex-
plored, and, to my mind, uncertain COM
mercial advantages supposed to prevail
in the Philippines. From a practical
standpoint and in the interest of the
American people, 1 have no hesitation
in saying that the English possessions
in the West Indies would be far more
profitable to US commercially and to
safeguard us in case of a foreign war,
than the far away Philippine islands,
Senator McCOmas of Maryland was
among the callers at the White House
"A, ia i
seriously the proposition to exchange
the British islands in the West Irdies
for the Philippines.
&c have not seen the Herald he
said, but L am quite sure the subject
has never been presented to either gov
eminent in an official form, hence it is
hardly debatable.
1t is not likely that England would
agree to such an exchange, even if it
should be proposed in the regular chan
nels of diplomacy. She fully appreciates
the commercial and the strategic value |
of her West Indies territory and it is
preposterous to even imagine that she
would be willing to part with her is
lands in exchange for the Philippines. |
L have never heard the subject men
toned in administration circles and 1 |
do not consider such an exchange as q |
remote possibility
Former Representative McCreary of !
Kentucky, who was chairman of the |
committee on foreign affairs when the !
Democrats 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 the United |
States to transfer her interests in the
Philippines to England he said. in re |
turn for the relinquis of the
queens sovereignty over certain islands
In the West Indies is very interesting
question. 1t is a subject I had not
heard advanced until I saw it in the |
Herald.
am aware that England is very
enterprising in her efforts to extend her |
trade and broaden her territorial pos
sessions. Whether she would be willing
to give her valuable islands in the West
Indies in exchange for the Philippines |
Is question 1 am not prepared to an |
sWer.
We are told that England desires to |
extend her trade in the far east For
that matter. she believes in reaching |
out In every direction when it is thought |
TO be to her interests to do So Her
possessions in the West Indies have al
ways been regarded as of great CONNER
cial advantage to her in connection
with her trade with South America.
II the United States is going to ex-
pand 1t might be to our ADVANTAGE to
acquire additional territory nearer home |
than the Philippines 1 am not in the
confidence of the present administra- |
ton concerning its foreign policy. but
fancy the president will undertake. TO |
follow up the ideas set forth in the |
proclamation of the Philippine COMMITS
SION Having embarked in the expan-
sion business in that direction he will !
probably feel that his policy should he
given a fair trial before experimenting
with any other proposition.
Under the circumstances I am in
cHned to believe that President McKin-
NnW