The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-15
CARNEGIE
OFFERED
20 MILLIONS.
Ready to Pay That Sum to Pre-
vent Occupation Of the Phil
ippines by United States.

New York. May l5--Through Mr..
George +. Seward. president of the Fideli-
~ and Casualty company, a new evidence
has been made public OF the intensity of
Andrew Carnegies opposition TO United
States occupation of the Philippines. 81
Mr.. Seward says that Mr.. Carnegie Of
fered 10 furnish the $20, 900 we paid to
Spain il by that means. he could be en-
abled TO assure the Filipinos that their
independence would be acknowledged ulti-
mately by the United States.
Mr.. Seward and Mr. Carnegie are old
friends. Mr. Seward Believes that he is
the first anti-imperialist. and he is very
decided in his views of the Philippine sit
uaton. He lived for 20 years In Asia and
believes that the experience OF Oriental
peoples there gained by contact and obser-
walton qualities him 10 speak with GER
tainty about what should be our treat
ment of the Filipinos and our attitude
toward them.
Mr. Carnegie is thoroughly In SYM
pathy with the view of his friend. In
recent article I'm the North American Re-
view, Mr.. Carnegie told about an inter-
view he had with President Mckinley
when our occupa tion of the Philippines
view that President Mckinley said; Mr..
Carnegie does not understand the matter"
Mr.. Seward has now given an account
on the authority OF Mr.. Carnegie himself,
OF some things that were said In that
interview between the steel man and the
president, which Mr. Carnegie did not re-
late I'm his published narrative OF what
took place then. In the last issue of the
Monthly Bulletin. publication which the
Fidelity and Casualty company prints for
the benefit Of its agents, Mr.. Seward said,
I'm the course OF an article on the Philip
pine situation:
There is a man in our nation distin-
guished for his marvellous success and
for his wonderful use OF wealth. Born
In Scotland. he came to our land and has
won here distinction in many ways. This
man went to Mr.. Mckinley when the
Spanish treaty was pending and said 10
him that America was in face OF war In
the Philippines: that our people and the
Filpinos would soon be killing one an
other-and he asked TO be sent 10 Manila
with the fullest authority to declare that
America desired good things for the little
brown men, and would soon recognize
their independence.
This man said to Mr. Mckinley. fur
ther, that he had the matter so much at
heart that, II sent on such mission. he
would himself pay the S20,000,000 called
for by the treaty"
When asked about this statement to-
day Mr.. Seward said that the conversation
in which Mr.. Carnegie had told him OF
the offer he had made had taken place
at Mr.. Carnegie's house in this city some
time before Mr.. Carnegie sailed for Eu-
rope They had been talking about the
Philippine situation and Mr.. Carnegie had
expressed again his regret at the course
of events In those islands. He then spoke
of his effort to prevent the outbreak of
histilties between the -F'ilipinos and the
Americans there.
He said that he had called on the presi-
dent in Washington before the ratifca-
ton of the treaty of peace with Spain.
and had told him that he was convinced
we were facing a war with the Filipinos,
which he was greatly desirous of avoid
ing.
At that time the president was already
contemplating sending n commission 10
the Philippines TO endeavor to reach an
agreement with Aguinaldo and his people
which would avoid hostilities. MIR. Car
negie said TO Mr.. Seward that he told the
president that he wanted to be sent to the
Philippines as special commissioner. or
as one of the several commissioners, with
authority TO assure the Filipinos that the
Americans were seeking only their good,
and had only the kindliest feelings Tor
and the best disposition toward them;
tnat we TO
their own government securely, ana then
their independence would be recognized.
II he could have such authority Mr.. Car
negie told the president. he himself would
undertake to pay the $2OOOO,OOO Whlcn the
treaty of Paris stipulated the United
States should pay to Spain for the re-
linqushment of her title to the Philip
pines Mr.. Carnegie did not desire to pre-
vent the ratification OF the treaty. but
he did desire to prevent the United States
from undertaking To control and govern
those islands, a proceeding which he be-
lieved TO be fraught with grave danger
to us. and the responsibilities OF which
he thought we should not assume.
Mr. Carnegie has never made public
reference 10 this part of his talk with
President Mckinley. but Mr., Seward said
today that I'm telling him about IL Mr.
Carnegie had laid no injunction of Sc
crecy upon him, and he had. therefore,
felt authorized to make II public.