Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-04-01
Plan Was to Take Delegation of POr-
to Rtcans ana Cubans to Philip
pines and Confer with Leaders
There-Then Bring Delegation of
Filipinos Back to Washington.

lie interest, to transmit 20 the mouse 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 a cessation
of hostdities.' I transmit herewith copies
of all the papers upon which final action
in the matter was taken.
'Since such final action. and since the
Introduction of said resolution, a further
memorandum has been added to the pa
pers by Lieut.. Gen. Miles, and transmit
also copy thereof together with the action
thereon.
4 THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
"White House, March 90 1902"
Letter of Gen. Miles.
Headquarters Of the Army, Washing
ton, Feb. II, 1902-The Honorable, the Sec
rotary of War.-Sir: / have the honor to
invite attention to subject that have had
under consideration for several months,
and to request that this letter be laid be-
fore the president.
''It 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 or 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 a
reconciliation, restoration of confid ence,
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
jngton. both before hostilities occurred,
during the Spanish war and since: and
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,
SIN view of the above considerations, I
make the request that 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-
ATS their people have derived through
friendly relations with this country, and
while there to give such directions as 1
may deem advisable and judicious for the
best disposition Of the United States mil
ltary 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
etrate that the purpose of our government
Is promoted by the highest sense of JUS
tfoe: and that on returning be authorized
TO bring to the capital such number of rep
JeSeHtative Filfpinos as I may think ad-
visable, in order that they may see and
know the advantages of our civilization
and realize the disposition of our govern
npent toward them. at the same time af-
fording an opportunity for full consulta-
ton, whereby intelligent and definite ac-
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 creditable to our govern
1nent.
''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 apprised
of the purpose and final disposition of our
government toward them. This need not
services of the military nor interfere with
the civil governments that have been or
may be established
Should this request be approved, am
confident it would result in better conti-
zion of our military forces in that division
IN the cessation of hostilities within rea-
sonable time, thereby permitting the re-
turn of a large number of our troops from
those remote and unhealthful stations,
and, I should hope. in an amicable ad-
x~f t. 1,
would be satisfactory to the inhabitants
thereof as well as to the people of the
United tSates.
very respectfully, Nelson A. Miles,
Lieutenant General, Commanding United
States Army
Roots Letter of Disapproval.
War Department, Washington, March
s. 1sO2-Respectfull forwarded to the pres
ident disapproyed.
1.-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
tppine 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
tictpate when the treaty of Paris was rati-
fed. The plan proposed in the within pa
per involves practically superseding the
officers mentioned in the control which thew
now exercise. Not only is this without
justification in their conduct, but should
regard 1t as most unfortunate interfer-
ence with the present satisfactory prog
ress. There have been exceedingly full.
extended and long continued consultation
and counsel between the government OF the
United States and the leaders of opinion
among the insurrectionary Filpinos, re-
sulting in full understanding and most
friendly feeling between by far the greater
part of the Filipino people and ourselves,
and participation by many members Of
the Aguinaldo government In the civil gov.
srnment under American sovereignty.
f''I append hereto list Of % officers OF
the insurrectionary government who now
hold positions of trust under our govern
ment. Aguinaldo himself has taken the
position of earnestly urging his country
men to accept our sovereignty. and most
of them have already followed his advice
ut is not perceived that any additional
benefit would be obtained by taking dele
cations Of Cubans and Porto Ricans to the
Philippines or by bringing delegations
from the Philippines to, the United
States in advance of the choice of official
delegates provided for by the bill now
pending in congress- the other hand It
would be very difficult to keep such a pro-
ceeding free from spectacular and sensa,
fional features, which would be injurious.
ut Ii not the fact that the warfare In
lhe Philinn!aex has h~ea ennui,ntec NTH