Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-29
GENERAL NILES PLAN
His Request to Go to the Phil
ippines.
IT rs DISAPPRoVED
,sEcRETARY ROOTS INDoRsE-
MENT 10 THE PRESIDENT.
The Full Correspondence Sent to Con-
gress in Response to House
Resolution.
IT Is DISAPPR0VED

The President today sent to Congress the
correspondence In reference to General
Miles request to go to the Philippines, In
response to a House resolution. 1t is as
follows:
To the House of Representatives:
In response to the following resolution
Of the House of Representatives Of March
26 1902, Resolved, That the President of
the United States be, and he is hereby. re-
spectfully requested, If not incompatible
with the public interest, to transmit to the
House copies OF all correspondence relating
to, and papers bearing on, the matter Of
the reported request of Lieut.. Gen. Nelson
A. Miles, United States army, to be as
signed to duty in the Philippine archipelago
and to be allowed to put into effect there
a plan outlined by him to bring about a
cessation of hostilities," 1 transmit here.
with copies of all the papers upon which
final action in the matter was taken.
Since such final action. and since the in
PRODUCTION of said resolution. a further
memorandum has been added to the papers
by Lieutenant General Miles. and 1 trans
NIT also a copy thereof together with the
action thereon.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
WHITE HOUSE, March %, 1902.
Gen. Miles Letter.
Headquarters of the Army,
WASHINGTON, February II, 1902
The Honorable the Secretary of War:
Sir: have the honor to invite attention
to a subject that 1 have had under con-
sideration for several months, and to re-
quest that this letter be laid before the
President.
1t is now three years since the opening
of hoStilities between the United States
forces and those in the Philippine Islands,
and this warfare has been conducted with
marked severity. More than 120.0o0 Unit ed
States troops have been at different times
sent or are now under orders to go to the
Philippines and more than 10000 still re-
main on duty there, which service, with the
assistance of the naval forces, involves an
enormouse expenditure Of public money az
well as the loss of many valuable lives.
During the past century thousands of
Indians have been called to the capital for
consultation and council, and have. under
authority, sent to Washington many red
handed representatives of different tribes
OF Indians, the result of which has been a
the prevention of war and the establish
ment and continuance Of peace within the
states and territories.
Our friendly relations with the people of
Cuba and Porto Rico have been largely
promoted by consultation with the repre-
sentatives of those islands here in Wash
ington, both before hostilities occurred
during the Spanish war and since; and
have never found any people, whether saw
age, semicivilized or civilized who were
not benefited by candid frank and honest
consultation and council.
In view of the above considerations, I
make the request that 1 be authorized to
proceed to the Philippine Islands, taking
with me ten men whom 1 may select from
Cuba and Porto Rico, whose assistance has
been found useful In promoting friendly
relations between the people of those islands
and the United States, and who could prop
erly explain to the Filipinos the benefits
their people have derived through friendly
relations with this country, and while there
to give such directions as l may deem ad :
visable and tudicious for the best dsposi-
tion Of the United States military forces,
to the end that they may occupy the most
healthful and strategic positions, with due
regard to economy, and be afforded the
greatest comfort and benefit; also to take
such measures as win tend to restore. as
far as possible confidence to the people of
these islands and demonstrate that the pur-
pcSe Of our government Is prompted by the
highest sense Of justice; and that on return
inG l be authorized to bring to the capital
such number of representative Filipiflos as
/ may think advisable in order that they
may see and know the advantages Of our
civilization and realize the disposition of
our government toward them, at the same
time affording an opportunity, for full
mite action may be taken concerning their
future destiny. It is confidently believed
that such measures could then be taken as
would be satisfactory and beneficial to the
ten millions of inhabitants of the Philippine
Islands and highly creditable to our gov
ernment.
By this means we would be fully in
formed of the condition and wants of the
people of those islands, and they, on the
other hand. would become fully apprised
of the purpose and final disposition of our
government toward them. This need not
reflect in the slightest degree upon the SER
vices of the military, nor interfere with
the civil governments that have been or
may be established.
Should this request be approved. I am
confident 1t would result in a better con-
dition of our military forces in that divi-
sion, in the cessation of hostilities within
a reasonable time, thereby permitting the
return of a large number of our troops
from those remote and uphealthfuI stations,
and, should hope, in an amicable adjust
ment of affairs in those islands which
would be satisfactory to. the inhabitants
thereof as well at to the people of the
United States.
Very respectfully,
NELSON A. MILES,
Lieutenant General,
Commanding u. S. Army