The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-30
AND REJECTED BY ROOT
A Resume of Correspondence Furnish.
ed the House.
ROOSEVELT ENDORSED ROOTS ACTION
The Correspondence Shows That Any Plan
Devised by Miles is Likely to Meet
With Hostile Reception by
Administration.
Administration.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, March f9.-In response to
resolution adopted by the House of
Representatives the President today for
warded to that body the full text of the
correspondence between Lieutenant Gen
cral Nelson A. Miles, commanding the
army, and Secretary Root, concerning a
plan outlined by the former to bring
about a cessation of hostilities in the
Philippines. resume Of the correspon-
6ence, together with the endorsement
upon it of President Roosevelt follows:
Under date of February II, 1902, Gen
eral Miles transmitted a memorandum to
the Secretary of War outlining his plan
to secure a cessation of hostilities in the
Philippines, with a request that it be for
warded to the President. After directing
attention to the situation in the Philip
pines and to the enormous expenditure OF
money and lives in the islands, he says
fYisTr durIne- tife past century Indian wars
have been averted by consultation with
chiefs of the various tribes. Our friendly
relations with the people of Cuba and
Porto Rico. also had been promoted by
the same means.
''TTe requests therefore, that he be au-
thorized to proceed to the Philippine Is
lands with delegation of Cubans and
Porto Ricans and while there direct the
disposition of the United States forces
to the end that they may occupy the
most healthful and strategic positions
and also to take such measures as will
tend to restore confidence to the Fill
pinos and demonstrate to them that our
government is prompted by the highest
sense of justice. On his return to the
United States he desires to bring such
representative Filipinos as he may think
advisable in order that they may realize
the advantages this government offers
them. and at the same time afford them
opportunity to consult with the officials
OF this government. He is confident that
such measures would be beneficial to the
Filipnos and highly creditabe 70 this
government. In conclusion he says:
8 Should this request be approved l
am confident it would result in better
condition of our military forces in that
division, in the cessation of hostilities
within reasonable time, thereby permit
ting the return of a large number of our
troops from those remote and unhealth-
ful states, and should hope. in an AMIGA
which would be satisfactory to the in
babitants thereof as we'll as to the peo-
pie of the United States"
COMMENT BY ROOT.
Secretary Root forwarded to the Pres
ident General Miles memorandum under
date of March 5 with his disapproval of
the recommendations. He says the con-
duct of affairs in the Philippines has been
able and successful. More rapid progress
has been made toward the acceptance Of
American sovereignty, the restoration of
peace, and the establishment of civil gov
ernment than was to have been expected
The adoption of General Miles plan. he
thinks would be an unfortunate interfer-
ence with the present satisfactory prog
ress Long continued consultations al
ready had been held with prominent men,
bers of the insurrectionary government
any many prominent Filpinos are now
occupying positions under the civil gov
ernment of the islands. Concerning the
proposal to bring official delegates from
the Philippines to the United States, the
Secretary says cit would be very difficult
to keep such proceeding free from spec
tacular and sensational features. which
would be injurious.
In conclusion the secretary says.
cit is not the fact that the warfare in
the Philippines has teen conducted with
marked severity; on the contrary, the
warfare has been conducted with marked
humanity and magnamity on the part of
the United States army.
NILES SECOND LETTER.
In subsequent letter submitted to
the Secretary of War on March u, Gen
Miles regrets that the Secretary should
have considered his proposition, pro-
NOTED in the interest of humanity, as in
any way Spectacular aud sensational.
He SAYS he would not anticipate any
such result frcm its adoption. He calls
attention to the fact that when n Cuba
last year he advised members of the
Constitutional Convention 70 make an
appeal direct to President Mckinley.
which they did. The President granted
+, the Cubans' request for an audience,
made through him, and the result of
the delegations visit to Washington
was most gratifying. Referring to his
comment that the war in the Phillip
pines had been conducted with marked
severity. Gen Miles says that his illfor-
nation was based upon Aofficial reports.