The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-07

sent to exchange her valuable West In
dies possessions for unexplored. and to
my mind, uncertain commercial advan-
tages supposed to prevail In the Philip
pines. From practical standpoint and in
the interest of the American people have
no hesitation in saying that the English
possessions in the West Indies would be
Tar 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 to-
day. He is not inclined to regard seriously
the proposition to exchange the British
islands in the West Indies for the Phil
ippines.
81 have seen the suggestion made in the
Herald" he said, "but I am quite sure
that the subject has never been presented
to either government in any official FORM
hence it is hardly debatabe.
1T is not likely that England would
agree to such an exchange, even If 1t should
be proposed in the regular channels of d.
plomacy She fully appreciates the COM
mercial and the strategic value of her
West Indies territory and 1t is preposter-
Gus to even imagine that she would be
willing to part with her Islands in exchange
for the Philippines. have never heard
the subject mentioned in administration
circles, and ! do not consider such an eX-
change as remote possibility"
Former Representative McCreary OF
Kentucky, who was chairman OF the COM
mittee on foreign affairs when the demo-
Gratis were last in control of the mouse,
discussed the suggestion of an exchange
of territory between England and the
United States while at the White House
today. The proposition of the United
States to transfer her interests In the
Philippines to England he said, in re-
turn for the ACCOMPLISHMENTS of the queen
sovereignty over certain islands In the
West Indies. is a very interesting ques-
ton. 1t is subject l had not heard ad-
vanced until | saw 1t in the Herald | am
aware that England is very enterprising
in her efforts TO extend her trade and
broaden her territorial possession. Wheth-
er she would be willing to give her valu-
able islands in the West Indies in eX-
change for the Philippines is question
am not prepared to answer.
Eve 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 1t is thought TO
be to her interest to do so. Her possess
sions in the West Indies have always
been regarded as of great commercial ad-
vantage to her in connection with her
trade with South America.
IF the united states is soiHS W eAPdh'
Il might be to our advantage TO acquire
additional territory nearer home Than the
philIppines. | am not in the confidence
Of the president or the administration con-
cerning its foreign policy, but l fancy
the president will undertake to follow up
the ideas set forth in the proclamation OF
he philippine commission Having en-
barked in the expansion business in that
direction he will probably feel that his
policy should be given fair trial before
experimenting with any other PROPOSE
ticn. -
under the circumstances ! am IN
cIined to believe that President Mckinley
will press forward on the lines laid down
by the commission with the hope and ex.
recitation of a satisfactory conclusion OF
this problem