Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-27
John Barrett, Formerly Minister to
Siam, Talks Of Them.
NECESSITY OF RETAINING THE ISLANDS
Anti-ImperiaIist Agitation Here Has
Its Effect.
MEN MAY BE N E e DED

John Barrett formerly United States
minister to Siam by President Cleveland's
appointment called at the White House TO-
day. Mr.. Barrett has just come from Ma
Mia, where he remained for ten months as
a student of the military operations there
and his views are of interest "All this
talk about Admiral Dewey's health" be-
gan Mr.. Barrett, lis misleading 1 saw a
great deal of him, and spent d day with
him just before l came away. He is not
Ill in the sense that he needs anything
more than rest and quiet. 1t is not gener-
ally known that he has never left Manila
bay from the time he entered it until his
final departure few days ago. In all that
time since the 1st of May the other officers
and his aids have made many trips to
Hong Kong and other points for rest and
recreation"
will larger army be necessary in the
Philippines?''
More Men May he Needed.
THAT depends upon the negotiations now
going on. Even if they do not amount to
anything, l cannot see that the military
problem is large one. The trouble with
ollr forces this year was the short time in
which they had to work. They really did
because before that they were waiting for
reinforcements. 1t is the universal opinion
among military experts and observers there
lhat could our operations have begun In
November they would have been all over
long before this. If the contest drags over
unlll another season | Should say the
United States ought to have so 900 men
there. but all this talk about 100 600 men
is over alarming The Filipinos in this
hght. have their elements of weakness as
llf q 1irOta Il
campaign. The men who are making
the trouble are the inhabitants of the re-
gion between Manila and Dagrpan bay.
lhey are not the mountain tribes The
people doing the fighting are used to living
in cities and to depending for their sun
plies upon settled conditions They cannot
suDslst IN the jungle, as did the Cubans
anu ana me jungle tribes of the islands, from
present lndtcations are not likely to helm
them Large sources of food supply have
already been cut off and / do not see how
thelr night can long be maintai aimed, even if
negotiations are unsuccessful
Anti-Imperialist Agitation,
Next to the rainy season the worst thing
our troops have to contend against is the
news of the anti-imperalist agitation in
TINS country, which is being seduluouslv
gathered and finds its way to the insurgents
iheS thlhk TINS movement means a great
deal, and that if they keep on long enough
rescue. l have great respect for the high
minded men who are leading the anti-in-
per!alisuc movement. In present conditions,
however, / think they are making mis-
take
When the Filipinos are finally conquered
they Will make excellent subjects. They are
Malay race, and if any conclusions can be
drawn from British experience in the popu-
louS Malay peninsula we shall be able to
establish satisfactory law and order among
them, beneficial alike TO all concerned, ma
GVeS ana foreigners. The warfare has not
proved their lncapacity for becoming good
citizens. 1t has exhibited qualities of pluck
and endurance and organization not before
realized While there are many difficulties
IN the way, the Filipino is plastic enough to
be nodded by American control and govern
m"nt into very peaceful person. We
should keep party politics out of our rule
there, and send only the best men
Necessity of Holding the Islands.
Il was not originally in favor of the per-
manent retention of the islands, but the
more | studied the question Of our stand
lng, politically and commercially, in the
Pac1f1c the more convinced | became that
our control there was essential to our prom
mence and prosperity in the far east. We
stand today as one of the great powers of
the Pacific. If should withdraw our
control over the Philippines We should alb
dicate a position that stands second to none
and come after Great Britain Russia Ger
many and Japan. The vast interests of
our Pacific coast forbid this. The east and
especially New England should turn in and
cooperate in this movement
Mr.. Barrett will speak on Thursday before
the New York chamber of commerce
American interests in the far east. While
in London he spoke on British and Ameri-
can interests in the east before the
board of trade and also the colonial
committee of the house of commons.
He is an effective speaker and to to his
abilities in this line largely owes his ap-
pointment as minister TO Siam. Mr.. Barrett
is about thirty years old, is q graduate of
Dartmouth College and now makes his
home on the Pacific coast. He will settle
in either Portland or San Francisco.
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