Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-05
Some People Contemplate Trading
the Philippines OF
FOR BRITISH POSSESSIONS
In the West 1ndies-vicws Of some
Prominent ,iea oo rbis VERY
Important Matter.

kits. In the I.eewnri Islands. to OK
change the Philippines for the Brliish
West Indies. There are strong argu-
mcnt- In favor u such mn exchange |;
Great britain can bc induced to part
with her West Indian po-Herslonn. and
there IL little doubt that Il the people
Of the United states had an opportunity
TO choose between the Philippines AMI
The English Philippines In the carib-
bean aoa. they would prefer the latter.
Thiu II practically true ~ The residents
IN the eastern states.
The possession of the British West
indies would be- ~ great Importance
10 the United States from a military
point of view. M II would make the
caribbean sea practically an American
lake and would enable this country 10
dominate completely all approaches 90
any future Isthmlan canal from the
Atlantic side. n would also bring me
United states into closer relations with
Central and South America nnd would
tend 90 develop commerce with nll the
nations south of Mexico.
MEYER or LOUISIANA.
Representative Meyer OF Louisiana.
who IL n membcr ~ the House com
mlttcc on naval nftairn ana who has
gwen close nttcntion 20 the new pos.
sessions of the United states. said.
As long as We arr IN the business of
buying and settling and IRA linz In SOW
srsiHnty, I should prefer, other things
being equal. "a hold pnsr-rsions near
the United States rather than at a
distance.
1T would also aecm 60 me 10 be better
10 undertake tho FUycrninsnt ~ Islands
the Inhabitants ~ which understand
and are In sympathy with our system ~
"a a. Ia
w. rather than islands the inhabitants
~ which do not comprehend tho Amsfi-
can system ana who are mt Willing
10 come under our government. Wheih-
- Great britain would conisnt u such
an exchange nH IL proposed. however,
n. think. a question OF grave Doubt"
LIVINGSTON or GEORGIA.
Representative Livingston ~ Georgia
l. heartily IN favor ~ getting rid of tho
philippines nj any price and regards
the proposition To- make an exchange
with Great britain M the best u a
difficult problem Yet offered.
Il do not doubt" he said. that II
the matter II properly handled. Great
iritAln VIII entertain the proposition.
Shv u ambitious to extend her CONNER
ciai interests In the east and would
doabtlear consider that the possesaipn
of the Philippines would give her much
greater strength than she nov has in
that part Of the world
AN that the United States needs In
the Philippines II a coalinH station
and place for repairing ships at
tnchcd Ia the Anlatic squadron. Il
seems TO be- that AN exchange might
be effected whereby tho United states
would consent Co make the trade with
the understanding that W. were 10 rc-
tain naval base In the Philippines In
confederation ~ similar privilege
Ernnicd 10 Great britain In her prra-
ont West Indian possessions.
NO ono can deny our riTht 10 dis.
pose o. the Philippines To Great ilrit-
nin or to any other poNer. uormnny
would probably throw an tho obstacles
she could In the way Of the trade being
made with Great britain. but that Il
not our affair England once IN pos.
session 81 the Philippines would need
10 have no fear of Germany protest"
iliLDBunN or CALIFORNIA.
Former Representative ilildburn of
California did not regard the PROPOSE
ton ~ az all feasible. lie doubted, In
the firrt place, whether the United
states had such title over the Philip.
pines as TO Justify the transfer of SOW
creignty 10 some other power. ana he
ana not believe that the proposition
for such transfer would receive the
approval u the American people. lie
aid not believe the people of the Pa.
clfic coast would favor tho proposed
exchange.
BuLrER or PENNSYLVANIA.
THAT II a very intereating proposI.
ton" said Representative nutier N
Pennsylvania. "hut ! would not be- In
favor OF II until I knew what would be
donr with the Philippines; n we keep
the Philippines u VIII be because Il
Il 20 the advantage % rs to do 80 The
retention of the archipelago will mean
that We VIII have stepping stone 10
the great Asiatlc continent. whose
trade amounts 60 thousand million
dollars a year. forty millions Of which
We ourselves controlled last year
The british West Indies oner no
such advantages. I am opposed 20 sur.
rendering any territory that IN for the
GOOD ~ America ana Tor tho good VI
the people living there"
FAIRBANKS OF INDIANA.
Senator Fairbanks Of Indiana. the
ranking American representative on
the Canadian hlgh Joint cammlsaion,ar.
rived here this evening from the West
Tor consultation with the President. In
conversation with the senator this
evening In relation 10 the proposition
for the United States 20 exchange the
Philippine islands for England'a West
India possessions. he said,
read the editorial IN this morn
inf's Herald with great Interest and
without committing myself for or
aFninnt the proposition. must say II Is
very Ingenious suggestion and win be
widely copied ana commented upon,
i do not care 10 discuss It's merits
or dement's NJ this time because the
policy Of the administration, relative
To the Philippines, N apt 90 be shaped
" accordance with the recommends
lions of the American commissioners,
whose proclamation was published to-
day.
The American people have conf
uence IN the members Of that commits
sion, ana believe whatever recon-
mendatio.H they may make after care
inlly surveying the field viii be ac-
cepted - the best solution of the east
ern problem.
scHLEy's VIEWS.
Rear Admiral schley says; II do not
Know what the political policy OF the