New-York tribune., 1916-07-17
WHY DEWEY WENT TO MANILA
Chinese Situation, Rather than Defence OF
the Pacific Coast, Was the Cause.
tn the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir; Mr.. Olcott's Life of Mckinley errs
in intimating. as you say in your review OF
that book, that the real reason for sending
Dewey to Manila in 1898 was apprehension
IN Washington lest Montojo's feeble squad
ron should get free and attack the Paclhc
Coast. That was not the sole nor the cniel
reason, but was only part OF the least OF
three.
There was doubtless fear that MontoIos
SQUADRON. IL il got out. would rayage our
immensely valuable Pacific commerce, as of
course Il could easily have done in the ao-
sence of an American protecting force; and
it might actually have attacked our Paclhe
Coast That was one reason for sending
Dewey to Manila.
The second and greater reason was the
need of providing for our own heet' whieh
was in the Eastern Pacific for the protection
Of our commerce. 1t lay at Hong Kong, but
under the rules Of neutrality il would have
to leave that port and come home or else
be interned In either case our commerce
would have been left without protection. 80
il was to proyid, our feet with a'base when
il could use during the war that Dewey was
sent to Manila
The third ard greatest reason Of all, how
ever. as was we'll known to those who were
in the confidence Of Mckinley ard Hay, wa
the protection of our interests in China
After the Chino-Japanese war the European
mowers made professions Of regard for Chi
nese integrity and for the equal rights of all
nations there But the moment the United
States became so involved in its controversy
with Spain that its hands werel apparently
tied they threw those professions to the
winds and began raid for the partitioninS
of China and the exclusion of the United
States from that empire Germany led the
way with her seizure of Kiao-Chau IN the
fall of 1897. and Russia followed few days
later with her seizure of Port Arthur and
the Regents Sword. Early in the following
wear. lust before our war with Spain actually
began. Great Britain took We-Hai-Wei and
Mrs Bav. and France took Kwang- Chau. The
partitioning of China had begun, and the
partitioners thought that the United States
was too busy in the Caribbean to interfere.
But on a memorable occasion Lord Kan
Z
ruin. The European powers forgot the Phil
ippines. to the defeat Of their schemes. Ihey
forgot that it would be perfectly legitimate
act of war-of the war which they thought
was tying our hands for US to conquer and
annex those islands and thus secure van
tage ground from which we could MAINTAIN
our rights in China. But William Mckinley
did not forget, nor did John Hay-though
the latter was not yet Secretary Of State.
And so il was, above all else, TO checkmate
the partitioning Of China and to secure the
open door and equality of privilege in that
empire that Dewey was sent to Manila.
Hence. too. the wrath Of Germany. That
mower had been foremost in the raid upon
China. II was foremost in sympathy with
Spain and in hostility to the United States
all through our war of 1898 Its hostility
eliminated in its scandalous breaches of
at Manila. And the animus of 1t
all was resentment at our defeat of the Ger
man scheme for the partitioning Of China.
What was the sequel? On September o.,
1899 less than a year after the ending OF our
war with Spain, and trhe more than SIX
teen months after Dewey's arrival at Manila,
John Hay practically dictated to the reluct-
ant European powers his epochal agreement
for the open door, equality of opportunity
and the integrity of China. His note to the
rowers was written and dispatched from
Washington. But between the lines the pow
ors saw it dated at Manila. As Hay himself
testified, if Dewey had not been sent to
Manila that note never would have been
written. and the open door in China never
could have been secured. To serve that end
was the real reason why Dewey was sent to
Manila. WILLIS FLETCHER JOHNSON.
New York, July 10, 1916.