The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-03-17
TO HOLD PHILIPPINES
INDEFINITELY SAYS TAFT
PLAIN STATEMENT OF GOVERN
MENTiS POLICY.
What Shall be Done with Filipinos
When They Have Reached a CondIt-
ion to Govern Themselves Remains
for Another Generation to Decide
Belief Thet They viii he willing TO
Stay with United States.

Washington, March 16.-In order to
allay any misapprehension relative to
the policy of the administration with
respect to the future of the Philippines
Secretary Taft to-day made public the
text of a letter which he wrote to John
N. Blair of New York, bearing direct
ly on that subject. The secretary states
very plainly that the policy of
the administration is the indef-
mite retention of the Philippines
''for the purpose of developing
the prosperity and the self
governing capacity of the Philippine
people" What shall be done when the
Fflipinos have reached a condition
when they can safely be trusted with
their own government, the secretary be-
lieves to be question which doubtless
will have to be settled by another gem
Grafton than the present. The secre-
tary's letter follows:
March is, 1905.
'tMy dear sir: have your letter Of
March Z in which you say that COM
mon reported Interpretation of my re-
marks before the house committee on
ways and means is that 1t is the pur-
pose Of the administration to give inde-
pendence to the Filinipos within the
next four years, and that this pro-
.duces great timidity about investments
in the Philippines, growing in great
part out of the undercurrent of doubt
as to what the future Of these islands
is to be.
In reply beg to say that I cannot
prevent misconstruction of my remarks
except by repeating to you what I act
#ually think in regard to the matter.
The policy of the administration is the
indefinite retention of the Philip
pine islands for the purpose Of de-
veloping the prosperity and the
governing capacity of the Filipino
people. The policy rests on the convic-
ton that the people are not now cap
able of self-government, and will not
be for a long period Of time; certain
not for generation, and probably for
longer time than that, and that until
they are ready for seIf-government 1t
would beea violation OF trust for the
United States to abandon the islands.
The question as to the future, how
ever, lis one wholly of conjecture The
important fact is the present policy,
which is that of the indefinite retention
of the islands. What shall be done in
the future, when the people have reach
ed a condition where they can be safe
ly trusted with thir own government is
a question which win doubtless have
to be settled by another generation
than the present, both of the American
and OF the Philippine people, to whose
| wisdom and generosity we may safely
trust the solution OF the problem
Should the Philippine people, when fit
for self-government demand indepen-
dence, should be strongly in favor OF
giving it to them, and have no doubt
that American people Of the next gem
GRAFTON would be Of the same opinion
I think 1t much more likely, however
that after the Filipino people shall have
been associated with the American peo-
Pile for generation or more. and shall
have tasted the prosperity they will
! find behind the. national tariff wall
they will prefer a relation to America
like that Of Canada or Australia to
England to one, Of absolute indepen-
I dence.
| Very respectfully yours,
s@ civilian H. Taft"