The Washington times., 1902-03-30

caustic lines of the entire correspondence
from the President in the following letter,
with (which the correspondence is con-
cluded
Letter From President
White House, March 81 1892
The memorandum of the Secretary of
War is approved as a whole, and as to
every part. Had there been any doubt
before as to the wisdom of denying Gen
eral Miles request, these papers would
remove such doubt.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The correspondence was sent to the
House OF Representatives yesterday in re-
sponse to the Burleson resolution request
ing it, 1t was accompanied by brief
message of transmission, in which the
President stated that he included addi-
tional memoranda added by General Miles
since the resolution was passed. The
memoranda added is the letter of General
Miles under date of March "a.
General Miles Proposition.
The proposition of General Miles, which
was submitted to the Secretary of War
under d;ste of February II, was as fol-
lows;
Headquarters of the Army,
washington, February IL, 1902.
The Honorable the Secretary of War
Sir: / have the honor to invite atten-
tion to a subject that l have had under
consideration for several months, and 20
request that this letter be laid before the
President.
Ii 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. Mere than 10000
United States troops have been at differ
ent times sent or are now under orders
to 20 to the Philippines, and more than
10000 still remain on duty there. which
service, with the assistance of the naval
forces, involves all enormous expenditure
OF public money well as the loss CT
many valuable lives.
Our Course With Indians.
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 reconciliation, restoration of
confidence, the prevention of war, and the
establishment 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 l
have never founc any people. whether
savage, semi-civilized, or civilized, who
were rot benefited by candid, frank, and
honest consultation and council.
His Plan in Detail
In view of the above considerations,
make the request that be authorized to
proceed to the Philippine Islands taking
with me ten men whom ! 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 properly explain TO the Fill
pinos the benefits their people have de-
rived through friendly relations with this
country, and while there to give such di-
rections as / may deem advisable and
judieious for the best disposition 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 Will tend to restore, as far
as possible. confidence to the people of
those Islands, and demonstrate that the
purpose OF our Government is prompted
by the highest sense of justice: and that
on returning l be authorized to bring to
the Capital such number of representa-
tive Filipinos as / may think advisable,
IN order that they may see and know the
advantages OF our civilization and realize
the disposition Of our Government to-
ward them. at the same time affording
an opportunity for full consultation,
whereby intelligent and definite action
may be taken concerning their future des-
tiny. II is confidently believed that such
measures could then be taken as would |
he satisfactory and beneficial to the ten |
millions Of inhabitants of the Philippine |
Islands and highly ereditable to our
Government
His Belief as to Results.
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 apprized
of the purpose and final disposition of our
Government toward them. This need not
reflect in the slightest degree upon the
services of the military, nor interfere
with the civil governments that have been
OF may be established.
confident II woulS result in a better con-
dition OF our military forces in that di-
vision, IN the cessation OF hostilties
within reasonable time, thereby permit
ting the return Of a large number OF our
troops from those remote ard unhealthful
stations. and. / should hope in an
amicable adjustment of affairs in those
Islands which would be satisfactory to the
Inhabitants thereof as well as to he
people of the United States Very re-
spectfully, NELSON A. MILES
Lieutenant General commanding United
States Army.
Secretary Roots Comment.
Secretary Root forwarded the gener-
ais proposition TO the President. disap-
proved, and in the course of his comment
upon It. after referring to the frequent
md extended conference between the
Government and the friendly Filipinos
md the k'iendly feeling existing. said: t
1T is Got perceived that any additional 8
benefit would be obtained by taking dele 1
cations of Cubans and Porto Ricans TO the
or by bringing delegations I
rom the Philippines TO the United States,
n advance of the choice of official dele
,ates provided for by the bill now pend a
ng in Congress. On the other hand, II {
would be very difficult to keep such pro- I
eeding free from spectacular and sensa-
ional features, which would be injurious. v
1T is not the fact that the warfare In v