The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-24

en- by Gen. Otis Came to- the State
Department. Through the Cbinesa
Ambassadors Investigation NJ
Once Instituted-No Orders Were
Given From Washington.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.-The state de-
partment has been informed tbroueb .
diplomatic channel, that Gen. Otis bas
apphed the Chinese exclusion laws TO H.,
! L hlllppines. The information was a SIR
prise TO the authorities here, both state,
ana military, as the matter has been nm
oer consideration for some time. and If
was not known that Gen. Otis had rnt
the exclusion laws into force.
The first intimation in that dirocffor,
came IN dispatch received a few dave
ago from the Chinese consul at Mania
telling the Chinese legation here that the
exclusion laws against Chinese had been
applied to the Philippines. The disnatcb
was brought to the attention of tba state
department and inQiry made as to how
tie action was brought about, as the Chi
heSe government had been soIicitous sinca
american military control was establish
Ell IN the Philippines that the United
States exclusion law should not be ex-
tended over the islands. The state de-
partment knew nothing of such an extern
sion, and made inquiry Of the war de-
partment. The military authorities, how
ever, were equally without information
as to Gen. Otis course in this partfcu-
lar Accordingly, the Chinese officials
were advised that any action taken bv
zen. Otis in 9DnlV0p the
70 the Philippines was not the result of
instructions sent from here but was
ucuotIess due to an exercise OF his au-
thorlty as governor general Of the Phil
ippines
What further step the Chinese authorI-
ties Will take has not been determined,
as Minister WI Ting Fang is out of the
city for few days. There is little doubt
however, that he will seek to have Gen.
Otis order held in allegiance until the
authorities here pass upon the general
question which has been under consfd-
Grafton between the two governments.
In this connection the state department
mas received an important letter from
Mr.. Williams, our former consul at Ma
Mia, who still remains there In a conf
Dental capacity. He says the native Fill
1pinos are strongly opposed to Chinese
labor, and in his opinion the exclusion Of
the Chinese from the islands would ma
terfally aid In bringing the war 20 close.
He places the Chinese population at 81
900, which is considerably more than other
estimates from official sources. The let
ter is dated July 26, and brings the situa-
ton up to recent date. 1t has been turn
ed over to the war department to be used
in the general consideration Of the ex-
clusion 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 other parts of the world, mainly be-
cause the Philippines are so near China,
and large numbers Of Chinese are already
established there. They carry on tbs
bulk Of the retail trade, have an extern
sive quarter in Manila, and send out trav4
cling statesmen, carrying packs to the
remote interior of the islands Some of
the officials present, including those OF
Admiral Dewey, have paid a tribute to
the work performed by the Chinese, and
Naval Constructor Hobson has recently
reported to the navy department on the
value of Chinese labor in naval and COM
mercial pursuits in the far east This
has led the Chinese officials here to ber
lieve that the Chinese exclusion laws
would not be applied to the Philippines,
end they are still hopeful that Gen Otis +,
acton will be a temporary move, incl
dental to military occupation, and not
part of the permanent policy of this gov.
eminent toward the islands
The only action taken here as to the
Chirese exclusion laws has been IN rul-
ing that they did not apply to Cuba and
Porto Rico.