New-York tribune., 1907-09-22
GIVE UP PHILIPPINES?
~NETER" SAYS DEWEY.
,Jd,n;raI Insists TRey Are Necessary
IN Commercial Expansion.

washingtoc. Sept 2l--Admirai Dewey strong
,-e the proposition that has been dis
- ~ a more less academic manner to
.,,ss- the Philippines. which. OF nn men, he
= leading factor IN bringing under the
Lea, ear. In an Interview to-day the ad-
-, SETS out clearly the reasons which impel
-. =. i-efs+ ,,7on the retention of the islands.
c,-c.,,ar1, enough. in view of the fact that
asr,i-aI is n man of war by trade. the strong
linz n his argument is not based upon the
.,,.a-, or naval Importance of the archipelago.
- a1r7os- altogether upon the great value,
-,-asan- and prospective. of the Philippines to
- United States fin the extension of American
--sae with the Orient. which he regards hold
i.,e out the best promise of commercial expan-
sion
Abandon the Philippines" he repeated when
questioned on the subject I don't believe our
country will even do that. Certainly it should
not. because i has altogether too much at
stake II is only our control over the Philip
mines that makes it possible for US 10 insist
Upon the open door in the East, toward which
ol,r diplomacy has been directed for a num-
be- OF years. We want our share of the enor-
r,o1s commerce Of the East. and we can't keep
tre door open for X unless we hold the islands
.cIThv did Spain for two hundred years donl-
rare The commerce of the Orient? Just because
she had the bay and harbor OF Manila as q
great commercial and naval base. That base
can be just as useful 10 US commercially as 1t
was 10 Spain
For the last ten years every strong European
nation has been trying 10 get foothold for
commercial and naval purposes in Eastern waters
Germany. England. France and Russia
ontaine5 rtghtfuhy and without chicanery. the
giving
Us superior naval and commercial advantages
o,-e- the other nations What sort of common
sense would il be for US TO give up such a posi-
ton?
"suppose we should dispose Of the Philippines
and Japan should acquire them. See how the
islands stretch along the coast. Here are the
Japarese islands here is Foruosa, which Japan
owns. and then come the Philippines. II Japan
had them she would command every gateway to
the Orient and the United States would he COM
pleteiy shut out
Every one comedies that the Orient is the
future great field for the principal commercial
nations Of the world. We ought to be the lead
ers but rre must at least have a share in the
enterprise. and IN order TO do so we must MAIN
tain the position we have occupied through
force Of circumstances in that region.
Il an talking now of the purely commercial
phase Of the question. and I think it is plain
that We must have a commercial base of opera
tion. such as Manila furnishes. And then. in
order TO protect our commerce. we must have
naval base and at subig Bay such base is now
being developed
Congress has recognized our needs in the
Philippines. and has appropriated literally for
fortifying the islands. Modern guns are being
mounted. z large drydock has been located IN
Subig Bay, troops are stationed in the island Of
Luzon. and in every way Congress has shown
its desire TO protect the islands from foreign
aggression, and also TO establish base for pos
sible military operations.
1t has been frequently said that the United
States has assumed responsibilities in the Phil
tppines which IL cannot pass over 10 other
hands, I do not care TO discuss this phase OF
the situation except 10 say that I believe the
American people VIII never shrink from such
responsibilities as were assumed for them when
the United States took over the Philippines
7 was very glad to see that Major Mcintyre
recently exploded the popular idea that the
United States paid S2OO00.0OO to Spain for the
islands He made it clear that when the treaty
of Paris was signed the Spanish commissioners
agreed 10 settle ali their numerous claims for the
sum mentioned. and throw in the Philippines.
and showed that by accepting this offer the
United States avoided the necessity OF taking
over the Cuban and Porto Rican debt.
But the commercial side of the matter. in
which farmers. manufacturers and al,
our people are concerned, is to my mind OF
greater Importance and I want TO emphasize
my belief that the United States world
power VIII always have commercial and dipio-
matte interests in the Far East, and cannot
maintain itself properly without a base of oper-
stions.
The United States cannot withdraw from its
present enterprise in the East, but must go
forward. seeking its share Of the advantages and
sustaining its share Of the responsibilities.
we cannot afford to turn over to the other
nations Of the world all the vast commerce of
the East and restrict ourselves TO our own
Pacific. The annexation Of Hawaii was in pur-
suance Of q policy Of commercial expansion and
protection in the Pacific which the statesmen Of
z few years ago foresaw both inevitable and
advisable for the United States.
we are fortunate that what was acquired
through their wisdom has been supplemented in
z legitimate and honorable way by the cession
Of the Philippines our country. and we should
never let go the immense commercial advantages
we have thus secured
DEFECTS IN THE QUEBEC BRIDGE.