Oxford eagle., 1902-06-12
INSTRUCTIONS 70 TAFT.
Mission Of tho Civil Governor Of the
Philippines to Rome In No
Sense Diplomatic.
IT IS PURELY A MATTER OF BUSINESS.
Authorities at Rome On the Terms on
Which the Friar Lands May BE Ac-
quired and Source of Trouble Re-
moved.

Washington, June T.-Secretary
Root yesterday sent to the Philip
pine committees of the senate and
house textual copies of the instruc-
tions given by him to Gov Taft for
his guidance in dealing with the
vatican se aecting the acquisition by
the United States of the friars' lands
in the Philippines These instruc-
tions were exhibited Thursday by
GOV. Taft to the vatican officials. and,
as will be perceived from their con-
text, served the purpose of creden-
tials. The text is as follows:
May 9, 1902.
''Sir: 1t is now apparent that congress
will not have acted upon the Philippine
commissions 8 recommendations regarding
the purchase of friarS' lands before the
time of you departure for Manila, Whieh
can not be longer delayed. You can not,
therefore. as we had hoped. now receive
definite instructions, and proceed TO take
such steps, In the execution of speclhc
authority from congress, as should prop
Mia. The committees of both houses have,
however. reported favorably upon the
commissions recommendations, ana II
appears probable that congress VIII con-
the critical situation of this subject IN
the Philippines, and of the apparent I'M
possibility of disposing. of the matter
there by negotiation with the friars tnem~
selves, the president does not feel at ND
erty to lose the opportunity for enectlNe
action afforded by your presence IN the
west He wishes you to take the subject
up tentatively with the eeedeslaSaies1 Sns
the friars' course of conduct, and en-
deavor to reach, at least basis OF
negotiation along lines which Will pc sat
isfactory to them and to the Philippine
government accompanied by the fdil ua-
Outstanding on both SIDES OF he FACTS ana
of the views and purposes of the paflles
to the negotiation, 30 that waen cttisitss
shah have acted the business nay WS-
coed to a on ,Insion without delay,
You are accordingly authorized, IN Inc
course of your return journey to Ma
what church authorities have the power
TO negotiate for and determine upon
sale of the lands of the rellgious erdeEs
in the Philippine Islands, and II you llha;
as we are informed. that the ofncefS OF
the church at Rome have such power
and authority, you will endeayor to at
tain the results above indicated. ANY ne
gotiations which you may enter upon ...rt, are
ALWAYS subject to the granting. OF power
by congress to follow the negotiations py
binding action. In any conferences ana
negotiations you will bear in mind the
following propositions, Whlch are deeIlsa
70 he Fundamental, and which should be
fully and frankly stated TO the otner sue
in the negotiations:
l. One Of the controlling principles of
our government is the complete separa-
fioe-of church and state, with the entire
freedom of each from any control or IN
reference by the other. This prlnclple IS
imperative wherever American ~ ~
shading thereof can be a subject for dis
cussion.
. II is necessary to deal now with the
results OF esfabitst4tf q - sssf,Ii q
Irelied by this principle in the Pnlllpl'its
islands. which have for centuries been
governed under an entirely different sys-
lem with church ana state closely uhitei,
and having functions Of the one eXef-
cised by agents of the other, where the
church has long controlled and acted Yif-
tuaIly as the agent OF the state m ii tne
field of public instruction. ana pubic
charities, and has from time to time ac-
-uuired large properties held by 1t or py
lis subordinate corporations or o1hcefs
for these public uses. a novel situation
has been created under wflch tne aaJust7 -
the former system entirely fails to pro-
duce the intended result under the new
system and the separation OF chufch anu
state requires to be followed by read
iustuent and Encouragement in the IN
ferests both of church and of state ana
for the attainment OF the great etds ol
civil government, of education, OIL chaflly
and of religion.
2 Rv reason of the separation, the re-
Hgio1s orders can no longer perform, In
behalf of the state, the duties III reiatloH
to public instruction and public charitles
formerly resting upon them, ana tnt
mower which they formerly exercised,
through their relations to the clFll gov
ernuent being now withdrawn, they mo
themselves the. objects OF such host,Ilsg
on the part of their tenantry against
the1n as landlords, and on the part t1
the people of the parishes against them
as representatives of the former govern.
ment, that they are no longer capapie zap 81 -
serving any useful purpose for the
church No rents can be collected from
the popalous communities occupying thelI
lands unless it he by the Intervention OF
the civil government with armed force
Speaking generally, for several years past
the friars, formerly installed over the
parishes, have been unable to remain a
their posts and are collected in slanila
nri+b the vain hone of returning They
will not be voluntarily accepted again b5
the people, and can not be restored tt
their possessions except by forcible IN
teryention on the part OF the. civil gov
ernrnent which the principles of our gov
ernnent forbid. 1t is manifest that undel
these conditions ii is for the interest o.
tAe church, as well as for the state. ina
the landed proprietorship of the religion;
orders in the Philippine Islands should
cease, and that If the church wishes, as
of course, it does, TO continue Its minis
and to conduct in its own behalf sys
TEN of instruction, with which We nav,
no desire to interfere, 1t should seel
other agents therefor.
a IL is the wish our government, II
case congress shall grant authority, tha
the titles of the religious orders to Tn
large tracts of agricultural lands wnici
they now hold. shall be extinguished, bu
that fun and fair compensation snail o.
made therefor.
s. 1t is not, however, deemed to be TO
the interests of the people of the Philip
nine islands that in thus transfornlnl
tracts lanUS
money capable of productive investment
a fund should thereby be created to b
used for the attempted restoration OF tn
frfars to the parishes from which the
are now separated, with the consequen
disturbance of law and order.
s The titles TO the great amount o
church lands and buildlngs ~ the lslaIlas
other than those Of the religious orders
and now apparently owned by the state
should be settled fairly
Z. Provision should be made Tor ascer
tanning what rentals, II any, ought TO b
naid for converts and other church build
iugs which have been occupied by Unite
state troops during the insurrection, thi
being, of course, q subject Tor the spe
cific action for congress-
s. The rights and obligations refnainln!
under the various specific trusts for ed
ucatjon and charity, which are now i
doubt and controversy, ought 10 be SCI
ned nv agreement If possible, rather tina
nv the slow and frequently disastrou
processes of litigation, so that the bened
cent purposes OF these Iounuatioiis ma
not fail.
.. Your errand will not be in any sens
or degree diplomatic In its nature, put WI
be purely a business matter q nee
fiating by you, as governor OF the sPhi1
iDpines for the purchase of property froI
tie owners thereof. and the settlement 2
lands in such manner as 10 td comm !
ute TO the best interests OF the people
the islands sas.
Any assistance which you may des1r II
whether on the part of the officers OF N
c;,ril oovernment or of the military off
GERS. 10 enable you to perform the dutie
above described in manner @ satisfafaor .sIs i,,.l
mass is left entirely in your hands, sur
| iect to such action as may oe taken Pun
st,ant to law upon your report.
Very respectfully.
ELIIU ROOT,
Secretary of War.
Hon. William Hiatt Civil Governor
the Philippines. washington ~ =.
(axatfeti Minister to washington.