The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-06
Would Bring This Country in
Closer Touch With Central and
South America, and Tend to
Develop Commerce With Mexi-
co, Besides Enabling Us to
Dominate Completely All APP
proaches to Any Future 18th
milan Canal From the Atlantic
Side.


of St kits. in the Leeward Islands, for
the exchange of the Philippines for the
British West Indies.
There are strong arguments in favor
of such an exchange if Great Britain
can be induced to part With her West
Indian possessions, and there is little
doubt that if the people of the United
States had an opportunity to choose be-
tween the Philippines and the English
possessions in the Caribbean Sea, they
would prefer the latter. This is partic-
ularly true of residents in the Eastern
States.
The possession of the British West In
dies would be of great Importance TO the
United States from a military point of
view, as it would make the Caribbean
Sea practically an American lake and
would enable this country to dominate
completely all approaches to any fu-
ture isthmian canal from the Atlantic
side. 1t would also bring the United
States into closer relations with Cen
trail and South America, and would tend
to develop commerce with all the ma
tons south of Mexico.
Representative Meyer of Louisiana,
who, as a member of the House Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, has given
close attention to the new possessions
of the United States said:
''As long as we are in the BUSINESS of
buying and selling and trading in SOW
efeignty, l should prefer, other things
being equal, to hold possessions near the
United States, rather than at a distance.
1t would also seem to me to be better
to undertake the government of islands,
the inhabitants of which understand
and are in sympathy with our system of
government, and who want to come to
us, rather than islands the inhabitants
of which do not comprehend the Ameri-
can system and who are not willing to
come under our Government. Whether
Great Britain would consent to such an
exchange as is proposed, however is,
think a question of grave doubt
Representative Livingston of Georgia
is heartily in favor Of getting rid of the
Philippines at any price, and regards
the proposition to make an exchange
with Great Britain as the best solution
of difficult problem yet offered.
II do not doubt" he said, that if the
matter is properly handled, Great Bril-
tain will entertain the proposition. She
is ambitious to extend her commercial
interests in the East, and would, doubt
less, consider that the possession of the
Philippines would give her much grs alter
strength than she now has in that part
of the world
All that the United States needs in
the Philippines is a coaling station and
q place for repairing ships attached TO
the Asiatic squadron. 1t seems to me
that an exchange might be effected
whereby the United States would con-
sent to make the trade with the under
standing that we were to retain a naval
base in the Philippines in consideration
OF similar privilege granted to Great
Britain in her present West Indian pos
sessions
No one can deny our right to dispose
OF the philippines to Great Britain or to
any other Power. Germany would prob
ably throw all the obstacles she cou. d
in the way Of the trade being made
with Great Britain, but that is not our
AFFAIR. England, once in possession CT
the Philippines, would need to have no
fear Of Germany's protest.
Former Representative Hilborn of
California did not regard the PROPOSE
ton as at all feasible. He doubted, in
the first place, whether the United
States has such title over the Philip
pines as to justify the transfer of sew
ereignty to some other Power, and he
did not believe that the proposition for
such transfer would receive the ap-
prevail of the American people. He did
not believe the people of the Pacific
Coast would favor the proposition.
This is very interesting PROPOSE
ton" said Representative Butler OF
Pennsylvania, but l would not be in
favor of it until / know what would be
done with the Philippines. If we keep
the Philippine Islands it would be to
the advantage of the United States TO
do SO. The retention of the archipelago
would mean that we will have a step
ping stone to the great Asiatic CONT
nent, whose trade amounts to a thou
sand million dollars a year.
The British West Indies offer no
such advantage. am opposed to sur
rendering any territory that is for the
good of America and for the good
of the people living there"
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana, the
ranking American representative ON
the Canadian High Joint Commission.
arrived here this evening from the
West for consultation with the Presi-
dent. In conversation with the Sem
ator this evening in relation to the
proposition for the United States to ex-
change the Philippine Islands for Eng
lands West India possessions, he said:
II read the editorial in this morning )
Herald with great interest and with
out committing myself for or against
the proposition. must say ii is a very
gerious suggestion and will be widely
copied and commented upon.
Il do not care to discuss it's merits
or dement's at this time, because the
policy of the Administration, relative
to the Philippines. is apt to be shaped
in accordance with the recommended
tions .of the Commissioners, whose
proclamation was published to-day.
The American people have conf
dence in the members of that commits
sion, and I believe whatever recon-
mendations they make after carefully
surveying the field will be accepted as
the solution Of the Eastern problem
Rear Admiral Schley says. II do not
know what the political policy of the
Government Is to be In connection with
the Philippines, nor have any means
of knowing that Great Britain is will
ing to relinquish her valuable posses