The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

Aeuinaldo left his residence at Ba-
koor on the 9Th of september to con-
vene the elective assembly of the Phil
ippine republic at Malolos. town or
some 10000 inhabitants and about
thirty-fve miles inland from Manila.
The members of this assembly were
regularly elected throughout the va
rious provinces of the island, according
to the relative population of the prov
inees-three from Manila and the other
large provinces down to one from the
smallest.
The whole of the island Of Luzon is
now being governed by the insurgents
except the provinces of Manila and
Cavite. which are occupied by the
American troops The last Spanish gar
risons, at Locos and Laguna, surren-
dered to the insurgents on September 3.
When interviewed by the Associated
Press representative on September II
Aguinaldo stated that his army con
sists of $1,000 insurgents regularly
armed and equipped with modern
weapons, and that he had some YOU
prisoners of war at this time, includ-
ing the larger portion now being held
In the vicinity of Manila.
When asked directly what was his
policy for his people-if it was uncon-
ditioDal independence-he politely
asked to be excused from answering the
question at this time. Continuing, he
asked the interviewer what America
intended doing We have been fight
ing for our independence, he said, for
a long time. Any nation OF Europe
would gladly take these islands had
they the opportunity, because Oh lhelI
richness and undeveloped resources.
He stated that he was opposed 10 any
European nation taking possession OF
the islands He declined TO talk on the
/ subject of America retaining OF an
nexing the island Of LuZon. WI men
! asked how il was that some natives
| oDenlv declared themselves in favor OF
! annexation to America, he stated that
/ natives who profess to favor anheAd-
! tion are insincere in what they say
/ They are merely trying TO ascertain
! the general sentiment or intentions vi
! the Americans. !,
/ oida upOn permanently retaining Ma
! ntIo snd Cayite, with the bay, would
! the Ftlipjnos be satisfied or Woulu tley
! resort to arms against the AH4et!cel
! OCCUPATION of these places. ne uEcllneu
! 10 answer and further could not De III.
! duced to express his personal OPINION OIL
| what his actions would De IN such
! event. He declined to say whether OF
NOT he would sanction the United states
| retaining a coaling station IN the fnll-
| fnpines even should America recognize
| the independence of the Islands or es-
! tablish a temporary vi Poi -
! tectorate over them.
| He avoided answering many ques-
lions put to him, expressing ms own
! nersonal views by saying that the iu-
! ture policy Of the Philippine ISLANDS re-
NAMED to be decided by the assembly.
| He expressed himself as entertaining
! the greatest friendship for the Amer1-
can neople. adding that he hoped there
| woIlId be no trouble between the re-
nuhlic of the Philippines and the re
! p,,hlfc Of America He entertained the
| idea that America and the philippines
were two sister republics, alneo 70
gether and nghtlhB colliiiloh
the Spaniards.
He thought that the American mis-
sion here In these islands had been &C
complished by the destruction Oh the
Spanish fleet and the forcfple SURRENDER
of the city OF Manila and expected that
tho Americans would soon Withdraw
their forces leaving the insurgents 10
govern and control the islands.
He made mention that MS unner-
standing was that this war between
Snain and America was war OF hu-
! manity on the part of the Americans
and not of conquest. and Americans
ACQUIRED during the war
| Apuinaldo complained that the span
,ards had been disseminating false re-
| norts relative to the movements ana IN
| tentions of the insurgents lot the pHr-
| nose of antagonizing the Americans
Pnainst the Ftltpinos and their cause
! and 70 Drecipitate hostilities between
them if possible.
For some time past the insurgents
have been disarming Americans pass
ing through their lines, but Asulnaldo
| discIaims having authorized any such
| coDdIIct on the part of his men, His
attention was called to the incident OF
| Sentember g. when the Pennsylvania
regiment proceeded to establish new
outpost some distance beyond the Tor
mer post, within the lines OF the lnsur-
| gents and an inSurgent company oo-
iacted to It being done. The captain OF
the company nearly precipitated hostil-
files by ordering the Americans 10 WITH
draw within twenty minutes, ana IS
sued ammunition to his men TO lntlml-
date the American officers TO OBEY MS
| order TO withdraw, and further, by re-
| fusins TO allow the reinforcement
which had been sent for to reach the
outpost
Aguinaldo was very emphatic, stat
ing that the Filipino who thus at
tempted to obstruct the movements OF
| the Americans was only pretended Of
f,cer of the insurgent army, and was, in
| fact. entirely unconnected Herewith.
| The local governor and military COM
mander, Pho Barican, explained to Ma
tor General Hale, who had ordered out
the whole Pennsylvania regiment, upon
| being informed of this action of the In
| surgents, that the insurgent captain
had exceeded his authority IN ordering
the Americans to withdraw, and stat
ing that he had misapprehended his or
| ders
II Is generally reported about Manila
that many Insurgents are not In SYM
pathy with Aguinaldo and do not In
clude themselves among his followers,
! Aguinaldo denied having received