Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-29


office, have the honor to return my letter
of February II, 1902, with Endorsements
thereon.
In connection with my letter and the In
dorsements thereon, 1 desire to say that l
regret that the honorable Secretary should
have been under the impression that
proposition that was prompted in the in
terest of humanity would in any way be
regarded as Spectacular and sensational.
l should not anticipate any such result. l
would call attention to the last page Of my
letter, in which I distinctly stated: This
need not reflect in the slightest degree upon
the services Of the military, nor interfere
with the civil governments that have been
may be established" 1 think it will be
admitted that such objection was ever
raised by any of the governors of states or
territories or department commanders,
when the numerous Indian delegations left
their territory to come to Washington.
/ would also call attention to the fact
that last winter while on an official visit
to Cuba,I was appealed to by members of
the constitutional convention, who said they
wished to communicate directly with the
President, and 1 advised them to make such
a request. On returning to Washington l
reported the fact to President Mckinley,
and urged that he grant their request
should it be made. He did so, and the del
egation came to Washington. The result
was most gratifying not only to our gov
eminent authorities, but to the people of
Cuba as well. All this was done without
the slightest reflection upon Major General
Wood or objection on his part, as far as
l know.
Referring to that part Of my communica-
ton which states that the warfare in the
Philippine Islands had been conducted with
marked severity, and to the remarks OF the
honorable Secretary on that point, 1t IS
proper to say that 1 had in mind such in
formation as Is conveyed in the letter of
Governor William H. Taft, addressed to the
honorable Secretary, dated Washington,
February I, 1902, as we'll as other commu-
nications that have been referred to these
headquarters or received by me.
Concerning my going to the Philippines,
1t my purpose nearly year ago to do
so, and this was with the knowledge of the
Secretary of War and the approval Of the
late President Mckinley; but the journey
was postponed in consequence of the in
crease in and reorganization Of the army.
The suggestion contained in my letter,
that in going to the Philippine Islands I
take certain natives of Cuba and Porto
Rico and on returning bring back certain
of those of the Philippine Islands, was
prompted by my belief that the result
would be satisfactory to all concerned.
Since this measure, as suggested, is not
deemed advisable, do not ask for It's fur
Their consideration, and on making my de-
layed visit to the Philippines, which hope
to do in the near future, shall devote nay
attention to the condition and requirements
of the troops In that division, the same as
l have in respect to other portions OF the
army. NELSON A MILES,
Lieutenant General Commanding United
states army.
The Secretary's Final Remarks.
War Department,
Washington, March 25, 1902.
Several weeks after the final disposition
Of the within application by the action Of
the President on the 9th of March, and
after the Introduction of q resolution in
Congress calling for the papers, the lieu
tenant general attached to them a state
ment dated March "a, 1902, with the ap-
parent purpose of showing that the action
taken was wrong. Without commenting
upon the propriety of military officer un-
dertaking to review the action OF the Presi-
dent, again submit the paper for such re-
consideration as the President may think
advisable, with the following remarks:
!. The delegation from Cuba, referred to
in this paper, consisted of public officers
with defined powers charged with the per-
Torrance of a specific duty as official rep
resentatives of the people of Cuba, and
appointed by the constitutional convention
elected by that people. The Presidents con-
sent to receive the committee was asked for
by Gen. Wood, through the Secretary Of
War; and was communicated to Gen. Wood
by the Secretary of War, who never heard
Gen. Miles name mentioned in connection
with the transaction.
2. On the 18th Of July, 1900, Gen. Miles
applied to be sent to the Philippines and to
China in his official capacity. At that time
Gen. Macarthur had reported that not
single additional regiment could be spared
from the Philippines without putting our
interests there in jeopardy and had shown
the reasons and the gravity of the situa-
ton there in dispatches which had passed
through Gen. Miles Office. In the face of
these dispatches Gen. Miles accompanied
his application by Recommendation that
$4,000 troops be withdrawn from the Philip
pines and sent to China. The withdrawal
of 1900 troops from the Philippines would
have made necessary the practical aban-
donment of large part of the country and
the restoration Of insurgent control there
in. At least two-thirds OF the $4,000 were
purpose of enabling the United States to
furnish greater number of troops than any
European power, and upon that score to
forces. The application and recommends