The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-02
Philippine Trade May Be
Given for Exclusion
of Coolies From
This Country.
President Said to Be
Willing If Taft Will
Agree to PropoS-
ed Plan.

Something very big. very important
and very striking is going TO happen
soon, involving the relations OF the
United States and Japan.
This stat tament comes from a high
authority, who is not only in a position
10 have absolute information, but has
no purpose OF eXagEeratiOn-
II is understood that while the negC-
tiations between the two countries have
for the moment reached the point
where agreement seems difficult. yet this
IS by no means The end. The fact Is.
according TO well authenticated repOr-.
that an entirely new element is 70 lee
brought into consideration, and is to
provide the basis for an agreement
Open Philippines to Them.
This new factor. IN short, is On ar
rangement for commercial union he
tween Japan and the Philippines. while
continuing the present political union
between the United States ana the is
lands. In other words, Japan would
open her ports 20 free trade With the
islands, and we would open the Phil
ippine ports to free admission of Japa-
Eese goods.
big. free market which they have been
denied in the United States, and would
be benefited greatly. The fears Of Ger
tain American interests lest free trade
with the islands might come some day
ana injure interests at home would
end; Japan would get the benefit Of an
ncxing d promising trade, and everybody
would be satisfied.
There has been inumation for some
weeks that this novel scheme was under
discussiCR- between the two countries.
Ii is now pointed out that Speaker
Cannon gave the scheme vigorous
boost when he made up his Ways aud
Means Committee for this Congress.
Cannon Packed Committee.
He packed the committee against the
Philippine reciprocity bill 50 that there
is most no possibility of the meas
ure being reported. Last Congress it
was reported and passed the House.
This time the Speaker has put on the
committee two beat sugar members
Fordney Of Michigan and Bonynge Of
Colorado-and two other rank stand
patters-Calderhead Of Kansas and
Gaines Of West Virginia.
Nicholas LOugWorth also went on, anu
Is supposed TO favor the reciprocity
measure. He is the only satisfaction
the reciprocity advocates get in the
make up OF the committee.
At The same time that this committee
is SO handsomely set up against any
commercial concessions by this country
To the Philippines, along comes news
that the governments Of Japan and the
United States are going 70 bring a new
anu striking feature into their negotid-
JiOns.
Scheme Up to Taft.
There IS excellent authority for the
statement that if Secretary Taft would
yield consent to this proposal the Pres
ident would be we'll satisfied with it.
Some squeamish people think such an
arrangement would only pave the way
to absolute cession Of the islands to
Japan, and they don't like it; others
think Japan would ultimately seize
them II such an arrangement were en-
tered into and opportunity given her
TO make all dispositions necessary.
But. IN general. opinion seem5 to favor
the arrangement.
Japan, it is said. would agree to keep
her laborers out Of the United States,
and would give this country every
guarantee that could be asked It
would settle al once the Japanese ques-
tion. and the problem of doing some
thing for the islands" in a commercial
way. Even If it led finally TO japanese
owneship of the islands. it would be
brought about peaceably and by ami
cable arrangement. Danger Of war
would be much less. as the matter is
viewed in this light