Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1898 — JAPAN MAY BUY PHILIPPINES. [ARTICLE]

JAPAN MAY BUY PHILIPPINES.

Offer of $200,000,000 for Group Made to President McKinley. Japan has offered this Government .*200,000.000 for the Philippines. This information came through a Washington correspondent from a high source and is asserted to be official. It was further stated that this overture of Japan was met by the reply from the President that no negotiations affecting the disposition or control of the Philippines could be en-» tered into until after the conclusion of the treaty of peace at Paris. In direct connection with this story it is known that an influential Senator recently had a long talk with the President, at which the disposition of the Philippines was the main topic of conversation. The argument of the Senator was that, while he was opposed to the holding of the Philippines, he had now become convinced it would be necessary to hold the island of Luzon. lie told the President it would be to the advantage of the Government to dispose of all of the group except Luzon and that it would be the better plan to have several purchasers for the group. In other words, he would avoid all possible complications by letting Germany, England, France, Japan and Russia into the gigantic auction sale.

When the peace protocol was negotiated by Cambon and the President the administration's idea involved nothing more than the acquisition of Luzon. Since then the expansionist sentiment has grown rapidly in popular favor. The President may be only testing public opinion by giving certain gentlemen the impression that he favors the sale of all the islands except Luzon, or he may actually favor this disposition of the Philippine question. If seriously advocated the proposition will be hotly opposed by many Republicans and Democrats of influence.