The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-04-04
NILES CORRESPONDENCE.
President Sends to Congress, as Re-
quested, Letters on Miles Offer
to Go to the Philippines.
LIEUT.. GEN. OFFERS TO END THE WAR.
Plan Was to Take Delegation of Por-
to Eicans and Cubans to Philip
pines and Confer with Leaders
There-Then Bring Delegation of
FilipinOs Back to Washington. :.

FiIipinos Back to Warrington.
Washington, March 31.-The presi-
dent Saturday sent to the house OF
Representatives the correspondence
and papers bearing upon the re-
quest of Lieut.. Gen. Miles to be as
signed to duty in the Philippines.
The papers were sent to the house in
response to a resolution introduced
by Mr.. Burleson, of Texas, and
passed by that body. They are as
follows:
To the Hot s. of Representatives: In
response to the following resolution of the
house OF representatives of March 2t, l9U2,
Resolved, That the president of the United
States be, and he is hereby respectfully re-
quested, If not incompatible with the pub
lie interest, to transmit to the house copies
of all correspondence relating to, and pa
pers bearing on, the matter OF the reported
request of Lieut.. Gen. Nelson A Miles,
United States army, to be assigned to duty
in the Philippine archipelago, and to be al
lowed to be put into effect there plan out
lined by him to bring about cessation
of hostilities,' / transmit herewith copies
of all the papers upon which final actlon
in the matter was taken
'Since such final action and since the
introduction of said resolution, further
memorandum has been added to the pa
pers by Lieut.. Gen. Miles, and l transmit
also a copy thereof together with the action
thereon.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
"White House, March %, 1902"
Letter of Gen, Miles.
headquarters of the Army, Washing
ton. Feb II, 19O2.-The Honorable, the Sec
Of Nar-Sir. I the honor n
invite attention to a subject that have had
under consideration for several months,
and 70 request that this letter be laid be-
fore the president
ut 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. More than 10000 United
States troops have been at different times
sent are now under orders to go to the
Philippines, and more than 10000 still re-
main on duty there, which service, with
the assistance of the naval forces, involves
an enormous expenditure of public money
as well as the loss of many valuable lives.
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
reconciliation, a restoration of confidence,
the prevention of war; and the establish
ment 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 found any people, whether saw
age, semi-civiliZed or civilized, who were
not benefited by candid, frank and honest
consultation and council
Asks to Be Sent to Philippines.
"In view of the above considerations,
make the request that I 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 is,
lands and the United States, and who could
properly explain to the Filipinos the bene-
fits their people have derived through
friendly relations with this country, and
while there to give such directions as l
may deem advisable and judicious for the
best disposition of the United States mill
itary forces, to the end that they may oc-
cupy the most healthful and strategic posi-
tons. 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 demon
Strate that the purpose of our government
is promoted by the highest sense of JUS
tice; and that on returning be authorized
to bring to the capital such number of rep
resentative Filipinos as l may think ad-
visable, in order that they may see and
know the advantages of our civilization
and realize the disposition of our govern
ment toward them, at the same time af-
fording an opportunity for full consulta-
ton, whereby intelligent and definite &C..
ton may be taken concerning their future
destiny. 1t is confidently believed that
such measures could then be taken as
would be satisfactory and beneficial to the
100000 of inhabitants of the Philippine
islands and highly cre6itable to our govern
ment.
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 appraised
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 or
may be established.
Should this request be approved I am
confident it would result in better condi-
ton of our military forces in that division,
in the cessation of hostilities within a rea-
sonable time. thereby permitting the re-
turn of large number of our troops from
those remote and unhealthful stations
ana, SnOulu nope, III an amlcaDle dQ-
justment of affairs in those islands which
would be satisfactory to the inhabitants
thereof as well as to the people of the
United tSates.
VERY respectfully, Mellon A. Miles,
Lieutenant General. Commanding United
States Army"
Roots Letter of DisapprOval.
War Department, Washington. March
g. 1902.-Respectfully forwarded to the pres
ident, disapproved.
THE conduct of military affairs in the
philippines by Gen. Chaffee and his pred
'ecessors and the conduct of civil affairs
by Gov Taft and his associates in the Phil
ipplne commission, have been able and
successful. Much more rapid progress has
been made toward the complete acceptance
of American sovereignty, the restoration
of peace and the establishment of civil
government than we had any right to an
ticipate when the treaty of Paris was rati-
fled. The plan proposed in the within pa
per involves practically superseding the