New-York tribune., 1902-03-30
WANTED TO GO TO CHINA. ALSO.


War Department,
Washington. March %. 1902
Several weeks after the final disposition Of the
within application by the action Of the President
on March s. and after the Introduction Of a reso-
luton in Congress calling for the papers the
Lieutenant General attached 70 them state
ment, dated March "a, 1902. with the apparent
purpose of showing that the action taken was
wrong Without commenting upon the pro
priety Of military officer undertaking 70 review
the action Of the President, again submit the
paper for such reconsideration as the President
may think advisable, with the following re-
marks:
First-The delegation from Cuba referred to in
this paper consisted Of public officers with de-
fined powers, charged with the performance Of
a specific duty official representatives OF the
people Of Cuba, and appointed by the constitu-
tional convention elected by that people. The
Presidents consent 10 receive the committee
was asked for by General Wood through the
Secretary OF war. and was communicated 10
General Wood by the Secretary Of War. who
never heard General Miles's name mentioned in
connection with the transaction
SecOnd-On July Is, 1860, General Miles ap-
piled TO be sent 10 the Philippines and 10 China
in his official capacity. At that time General
Macarthur had reported that not single ad-
dltlonal regiment could be spared from the
Philippines without putting our interests there in
jeopardy, and had shown the reasons and the
gravity OF the situation there IN dispatches
which had passed through General Miles's Of
fee. In the face of these dispatches General
Miles accompanied his application by recon-
mendation that fifteen thousand troops be with
drawn from the Philippines and sent to China.
The withdrawal Of fifteen thousand troops from
practical abandonment OF a large part Of the
country and the restoration Of insurgent control
therein At least twO-thirds Of the fifteen thou
sand were wholly unnecessary in China unless
for the purpose OF enabling the United States
furnish q. greater number of troops than any
European power and on that score to claim the
supreme command Of the allied forces. The ap-
plcation and recommendation were. in fact. ac-
companied by request from General Miles that
such supreme command Of the allied forces
should be obtained for him. Under these cir
cunstances. President Mckinley declined to au-
thorize the sending Of General Miles either 10 the
Philippines or 10 China. A year afterward the
Secretary OF War authorized the Lieutenant
General TO extend his inspection tour TO the
Philippines for the purpose Of inspection only
He has never been authorized to go for any
other purpose.
Thc question whether the order which the
Lieutenant General asks, sending him to the
Philippines, would interfere with the present
military and civil control must be determined
not by what the application says about the
order but by rhe terms Of the proposed order
itself The Lieutenant General asks authority
Ito give such directions as (he) may deem ad-
yisable and judicious for the best disposition OF
the United States military forces That Of
course means to command General Chaffee and
he asks authority also 10 take such measures
as will tend 70 restore far possible con-
hdence TO the people OF these islands. and de-
monstrate that the purpose Of our government
Is prompted by the highest sense Of justice
That means, if II means anything, authority 70
do himself TO require the civil officers OF the
Philipuines TO do under his direction, the very
duties which were charged upon the Philippine