The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-04-06
Idea Originates with the People
Of the st. Kits and Much
Interest Is Shown.
THE ATTITUDE OF ENGLAND
Subject Has not Been Officially Con.
sidered. but Many Are In Favor
Of the Transfer.

NEW YORK. April 5.--A special TO
the Herald from Washington says: Much
interest is felt here in the proposition
originating with the inhabitants Of ST.
Kitts. in the LeeWard Islands, In ex-
ekange Of the Philippines for the British
Yves; Indies
There are strong arguments In favor OF
such an exchange II Great Britain can be
induced to pzrl with her West indian
possessions. and there Is little doubt that
II the people Of the United States had
an opportunity to choose between the
Philippines and the English possessions
in the caribbean sea. they would prefer
the latter. This Is practically true Of the
residents Of the eastern states.
The possession Of the British West In
dies would be of great Importance to the
United States from a military point OF
view, as II would make the caribbean
sea practically an American lake, and
would enable this country to dominate
completely all approaches to any future
isthmian canal from the Atlantaic side
K would also bring the United States
into closer relations with Central and
South America, and would tend to de-
velop commerce with all the nations
south Of Mexico.
Representative Meyer. Of louisiana.
who is a member Of the house commit
tee on naval affairs, has given close at
tentiOn to the new possessions Of TIE
limited States said.
''As long as We are in the business OF
buying ami selling and trading in SOW
ereignty 1 should prefer. other things
being equal, to hold possessions near the
United States rather than at a distance.
at would also seem to me to be better
TO undertake the government OF the
Islands the inhabitants OF which under
stand and are in sympathy with our sys-
TEN OF government and who want b
come to US, rather than islands the In
habitants OF which do not comprehend
the American system and who are no,
willing to come under our government
Whether Great Britain would consent to
such an exchange as is proposed, how
ever. is. 1 think. question Of grave
doubt"
Representative Livingston, OF Georgia,
is heartily in favor OF getting rid Of the
Philippines at any price and regards the
proposition 10 make an exchange with
Great Brs,ain as the best OF difficult
problem yet offered.
Il do not doubt he said, ''that II ths
matter is properly handled. Great Britain
will entertain the proposition. She is
Ambitious to extend her commercial IN
lteres;s in the East, and would doubtless
consider that the possession Of the Phi,
ippines would give her much greater
strength than she now has in that part
of the world.
"All that the United States needs In the
Philippines Is coaling and a place for
repairing ships attached to the Aslat'C
squadron. 1t seems to me that an ex-
change might be effected whereby The
United States would consent to make a
trade with the understanding that W,
were to retain naval base in the Phil.
ippines In consideration of similar priv.
hege granted to great Britain in hel
West Indian possessions.
mo one can deny our right to dispose
of the Philippines 10 Great Britain. Of
to any other power. Germany would
probably throw all the obstacles she
could in the way of the trade being mad
with Great Britain, but tlat is not our
AFFAIR. England, once is possession oi
the Philippines. would need have no feal
Iof Germany's protest"
Former Representative Hildburne, OF
california, did not regard the proposi
ltiln as at all feasible. He doubted, il
1.-THE first place. whether the United States
had such title over the Philippines as tC
Justify the transfer Of siveregnty tc
some other power, and did not believe
that the propositiin for such a transfer
would receive the approval Of the Amer
lean people He did not believe the peo.
pie of the Pacific coas, would favor sucl
an exchange.
''That is a very interesting proposition
said Representative Butler, of Pennsyl
lvania, 'ibut l would not be in favor Of 1
luntil l knew what would be done with tht
Philippines. II We keep the Philippine.
It will be because it Is to the advantage