Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-10
ARE NOT FOR SALE.
The Philippine Islands Will Remain
 in Possession of the United States.

Ill fOSSeSSlOn OI the UnCeQ oCaCeS.
 Washington, D. C., Oct. 10.-Ar authoritative word has been spoken
 respecting the policy of America to-
 ward the Philippines The islands will not be disposed of to any other power. Their title will remain in the United States and their people will be afforded every opportunity to become completely self-governing.
 This was the policy of Mckinley It became the policy of Roosevelt when he succeeded to the presidency 1 in the shadow of national tragedy. It continues to-day to be the policy of Roosevelt and the American govern ment.
 It has been voiced many times by President Roosevelt, himself, and by others who spoke by authority of the administration. The latest statement of it was made by Secretary Taft, as he was about to depart from Japan after his conferences with the Jap anese emperor and the principal off, cials of the imperial government. The position of the American government undoubtedly had been made perfect ly clear to the Japanese officials by the secretary, as to do that was a part of his mission to Tokio. AS he was on the eve of his departure, he was asked how the American govern ment would regard proposition to sell the Philippines to Japan Secre- tary Taft's reply was emphatic and pointed:
 Such a proposition would be ab- surd. Japan does not want the is- lands and the United States could not sell them without the grossest viola tion of its obligations to the people of the Philippines"
 Added significance attaches to this definite statement when it is known that, before he left Washington, Sec retary Taft had determined to make it in some such form while on the soil of Japan.
 He had conferred with the presi- dent on the subject and 1t had been determined that he not only should let Japan know decisively what the attitude of the American government was, but that he also should take oc- casion to let the world know. It was regarded as particularly desirable that the people of the Philippines should understand that the American government felt itself obligated to stand by them and to aid them in every possible way. The proposition that the islands be sold to another nation, particularly to Japan, after all the protestations in this country about good intentions and manifest destiny" was particularly abhorrent to the Filipino mind and it is said that the story has done more than any other one thing to render the Filipinos suspicious of America.
 Tn two brief sentences. however, Secretary Taft has eliminated Japan from the equation: has stated to the world the attitude of the United States toward the islands: and has conveyed definite assurance to the Filipinos that the American govern ment proposes to meet the obligations to them which 1t heretofore has ac- knowIedged repeatedly.
 "It scarcely could be termed a dip- lomatic statement" remarked state department ofieial. epigrammatieally referring to Secretary Taft's an- nouneement: but it certainly was the statement of a diplomat"
 Continuing. the official pointed out that the few emphatic words of the secretary had served not only to re- assure the. F1lipinos. but also to cor rect any misunderstanding that might have lodged in the minds of some Japanese, and that they were rendered all the more forceful by req son of the fact that they were uttered in Japan Incidentally. as probably was anticipated by the president and Secretary Taft, the announcement will not be without effect in this country among those who seem in- elined to take a pessimistfc view of the efforts of the government to up- lift the FIlipinos and to fit them to stand alone and govern themselves
 'It may not be regarded as a dip Iomatfc statement" concluded the o@eiaI. but Ft was historic"