The Portland daily press., 1900-02-08
DesultOry Discussion Of African and
Filipino Wars.
Mr.. Shafroth Favors
Mediation.
Some Questions Asked Him By
Other Members.

Washington, February THE House
finished the diplomatic and consular ap-
preparation bill today, passing It substan-
TALLY rs 10 came from the committee.
There was some tesultory discussion CT
the Philippine question and the war In
South Africa, the principal fe0ture be-
ing the speech of Mr.. Shafroth In favor
Of mediation in the British. Boer war
under the provisions OF TIE Hague
treaty. The diplomatic bill as passed
carries sl.7is,0ls.
Washington. February THE House
today resumed the consideration Of the
diplomatic and consular appropriation
DILL Although general debate cloEei
y esterday by unanimous consent, Mr..
Shsfroth. (Siiver, of Colorado.) was al
lowed As minutes in which to complete a
speech he had begun last week In favor
of mediation by the United States In the
South African war. Under The Hague
treaty, he oontended that England could
not consider an offer OF mediation an un-
friendly act
While the British were demanding re-
lief In the South African republic, he
said, 5000 Dutch residents Of British
Guiana, born upon British soil. who are
not allowed to hold office in the legisla-
tive, executive or judicial branches of
the colonial government. we're petition
Ing for relief. Their oasrs were almost
analogous to those of the Uitlanders in
the Transvaal, yet Great Britain refused
to listen to thu Dutch In her own colony.
MIR. Grosvenor of Ohio, said be wished
the gentleman from Colorado had told
the House whether either of the contend
ing parties had asked the United States
for mediation. They have not" inter
rupted Mr.. Shafroth, "but The Hague
treaty -
1.-The Publications Of that treaty have
not been exchanged" interrupted Mir.
GrosvenCr.
Mr.. Grosvenor said he sympatbizsd
with any people struggling for liberty.
He set the house In roar by running
over the history Of Europe, pointing out
here and there the wrongs suffered by
Hun garians, Binlanders, Poles, etc., all
yet the United States had not felt called
upon to int srfsrs. He concluded With
the suggestion that commission OF rs
members at salaries Of $50. 90 eHch should
he appointed to roam over the earth TO
discover where wrongs have been COM
mitted and to report to ths HOUSE In or
der that the United States might so to
war any time that the kin OF our con-
stituents wers oppressed. Mr.. Sbafrcth.
who again obtained the floor was inter
ruptsd by MIR. William Alden Smith OF
Michigan, who asked II the gentleman
from Colorado knew whether the kindly
offices of the United States had been
offered In the Boer- British war.
Mr.. Shafro.h rsllied that he did not,
but" he added, ~ would thank God
IL such was the cass."
ne asked IL Mr.. Smith had any In
formation upon the subject.
Mr.. Smith replied that he was not au-
thorized to speak for the administration.
but he knew that II our government
was requested to act by either party to
the conflict, its kindly offices would be
willingly placed at their disposal.
do you know that such an offer has
been nader" persisted MIR. Shafroth.
such Information would bs conveyed
through our diplomatic channels in Lon
don aud Pretoria" responded MI Smith.
But Of the entire willingness Of this
government to act II properly requested
by the parties engaged In the conflict
there can be no question"
The bill was then read for amendments
under the fve-minIte rule.
Mr.. Gillet OF Massachusetts,, while
speaking to pro-forma amendment de-
fired his position relative to tie Philip
pines. Before the peace trenty was rati-
lied, he said, no man was more oppose
to the annexation of the philippines than
be, but now that they had como to US
by treaty, the question was not shall we
govern them, but how shall We govern
them. In his opinion the natives Of the
Islands wsrs not f1t for selt-goyernmeDt
and would not be within his lifetime.
MIR. Terry of Arkansas said the Re-
publican party had changed very greatly
sinos 1860 when 1t stood for the liberia
tion of the slaves, now under Its ausp'-
oas slavery was recognized and tolerated
In the Philippines.
Several minor amendments were adopt
ed and the bill was passe1.
At ans D. M, the House adjourned.