do well to have his men
for Washington and Paris go on her if permission could be obtained,
as there was no doubt it could, and I mentioned the time required to
reach Washington and Paris--that one could be on a trans-Atlantic
steamer in New York six hours after leaving Washington, that the
Philippine commissioners going to Paris should make it a point to
see the President on the way, and the whole matter one of urgency,
but it was certainly not too late to act.

The General said it had been thought a representative of the islands
and of the cause of the people should go to Washington, but the man
was in Hongkong. He could, however, be telegraphed, so that he could
catch the China at Nagasaka, Japan, where she would have to stop two
days to take coal. The Washington commissioner might go to Paris, but
instructions could not reach him before he left Hongkong, as it would
not be desirable to telegraph them. Upon this I stated if it suited
his convenience and he would send instructions by me, I was going on
the China, and would charge myself with the special confidential care
of his dispatches and deliver them to the commissioner at the coaling
station, when he should join the ship; and if it was the desire of
the General to have it done I would telegraph the President that
Philippine commissioners were on the way. These suggestions were
received as if they were agreeable, and esteemed of value.

The conversation turned at this point to the main question of the
future government of the Philippines, and I inquired what would
be satisfactory to the General, and got, of course, the answer,
"Philippine independence." But I said after the United States had sent
a fleet and destroyed the Spanish fleet and an army in full possession
of Manila she was a power that could not be ignored; and what would be
thought of her assuming the prerogative of Protector? She could not
escape responsibility. His views as to the exact line of demarkation
or distinction between the rights of the United States and those of
the people of the islands should be perfectly clear, for otherwise
there would be confusion and possibly contention in greater matters
than now caused friction.

I endeavored to indicate the idea that there might be an adjustment on
the line that the people of the Philippines could manage their local
matters in their own way, leaving to the United States imperial
affairs, the things international and all that affected them,
t