The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-01

Washington, March 29.-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
General Nelson A Miles. commanding
the army, and Secretary Root, concern
ing a plan outlined by the former TO
bring about cessation of hostilities in
the Philippines. A resume of the cor
respondence, together with the endorse
ment upon it of President Roosevelt
follows:
Under date Of February IT, 1902, Cen
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 forwarded to the president. After
directing attention to the situation in
the Philippines and to the enormous
expenditure of money and lives in the
Islands, he says that during the past
century Indian wars have been averted
by consultation with chiefs of the vari-
Gus tribes. Our friendly relations with
the people of Cuba and Porto Rico, also,
had been promoted by the same means.
He requests, therefore, that he be au-
thorized TO proceed to the Philippine is
lands with a 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
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 af-
ford them opportunity to consult with
| the officials Of this government. He is
confident that such measures would be
beneficial to the Filipinos and highly
creditable to this government. In con-
| clusion he says:
Should this request be approved I
| am confident it would result in a better
| division. in the cessation of hostilities
within a reasonable time. thereby per-
mitting the return of a large number
| of our troops from those remote and
unhealthfu stations. and, 1 should
hope, in an amicable adjustment of af-
/ fairs in those islands which would be
satisfactory to the inhabitants thereof
as well as to the people of the United
| States"
| Secretary Root forwarded to the pres
| ident General Miles memorandum
under date OF March 5th with his dis
| approval of the recommendations. He
says the conduct of affairs in the Phil
] ippines has been able and successful.
More rapid progress has been made to-
ward the acceptance of American SOW
| ereignty. the restoration of peace, and
the establishment of civil government
than was to have been expected. The
adoption of General Miles plan, he
| thinks. would be an unfortunate inter
| ference with the present satisfactory
progress. Long continued consultations
| already had been held with prominent
members of the insurrectionary govern
ment and many prominent Filipinos are
now occupying positions under the civil
government of the islands. Concerning
the proposal to bring official delegates
from the Philippines to the United
States. the secretary says: "It would
be very difficult to keep such a proceed
ing free from spectacular and sensa-
tional features. which would be inju-
rious." In conclusion the secretary
says:
1T is not the fact that the warfare
in the Philippines has been conducted
with marked severity: on the CONTRARY
the warfare has been conducted with
market humanity and magnimity or
the part of the United States army
In a subsequent letter submitted tc
the secretary Of war on March 24th
General Miles regrets that the secretary
should have considered his proposition
promoted in the interest of humanity
as in any way spectacular and sensa-
tional." He says he would not antici-
pate any such result from it's adoption
He calls attention to the fact that when
| in Cuba last year he advised members
| of the constitutional convention to make
an appeal directly to President McKin-
| ley, which they did. The president
granted the Cubans' request for an au-
] dience, made through hira, and the re-
| suit of the delegations visit to Wash
| ington was most gratifying.
| Referring to his comment that the war
in the Philippines had been conducted