The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-24
SAYS NO TO CHINA.
Gen. Otis Issues An
Order Excluding
the Chinese.
The REPORT is A SURPRISE.
A General Belief That the
Order is But a Tempo
rary Arrangement.
tbs REPORT is A SURPRISE.

Washington, Aug. 23.-The state de-
partment has been informed through a
diplomatic channel that Gen. Otis has
applied the Chinese exclusion laws to
the Philippines. The information was
a surprise to the authorities here, both
state and military, as the matter has
been under consideration for some time,
and it was not known that Gen. Otis
had put the exclusion laws into force.
The first intimation in that direction
came in a dispatch received a few days
ago from the Chinese consul at Manila,
telling the Chinese legation here that
the exclusion laws against Chinese had
been applied to the Philippines. The
dispatch was brought to the attention
of the state department, and inquiry
was made as to how the action was
brought about, as the Chinese govern
ment has been most solicitous since
American military control was estab-
li5hed in the Philippines that the United
States exclusion laws should not be ex-
tended over the islands.
The state department knew nothing
of such an extension, and made inquiry
Of the war department. The military
authorities, however, were equally with
out information as to Gen. Otis course
In this particular
Accordingly the Chinese officials were
advised that any action taken by Gen.
Otis in applying in the exclusion laws
M fha phiIirpi,,e e, woe ,,ot +1,o ,,as,,I+ ~
instructions sent from here, but was
doubtless due to an exercise of his au-
thority as governor general of the
Philippines.
What further steps the Chinese au-
thorities will take has not been deter
mined, as Minister WI Ting Fang is
out of the city for few days. There is
little doubt, however, that he will seek
70 have Gen. Otis order held in abey-
ance until the authorities here pass up
on the general question which has been
under consideration between the two
governments.
In this connection the state depart
ment has received an important letter
from Mr.. Williams, our former consul
at Manila, who still remains there in a
confidential capacity. He says the ma
tive Fflipinos are strongly opposed to
Chinese labor, and in his opinion the ex-
clusion of the Chinese from the islands
would materially aid in bringing the
war to a close.
He places the Chinese population at
$4,000, which is considerably more than
other estimates from official sources.
The letter is dated July 26. 1t has been
turned over to the war department to
be used in the general consideration of
the exclusion question.
The Chinese government has shown
more anxiety as to the course of this
government toward the Chinese in the
Philippines than towards those in Cuba
or any other part of the world, mainly
because the Philippines are so near
China and large numbers of Chinese are
alrea ly established there. They carry
on the bulk of the retail trade, have an
extensive quarter in Manila and send
out travelling statesmen, carrying packs,
to the remote interior of the island.
Some of the official reports, including
those of Admiral Dewey, have paid a
tribute to the work performed by the
Chinese, and Naval Constructor Hob
son has recently reported to the navy
department on the advisability of hav-
ing Chinese labor in the Philippines
Having led the Chinese officials here
to believe that the exclusion laws would
not be applied to the Philippines, they
are still hopeful that Gen. Otis action
will be temporary move, incident to
military occupation, and not part of the
permanent policy of this government
toward the islands.
The only action taken here as to the
Chinese exclusion laws has been in
ruling that they were not a part of the
immigration laws and did not apply to
Cuba and Porto Rico.