The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-09-23
PER[hP TORY
MANDATE.
Government Sends An Order
for the Spanish to Get
Out Of Cuba.
AGU1NALDo's EMIssARIEs
Mckinley Will Not Give
Them Recognition--Gen-
eral Woodford Resigns.
AGUINALDO'S EMISSARIES

WASHINGTON, Sept. %, 1Ses-A very
perenptory message of instruction has
been sent to the Cuban military commits
sion and by them made the basis Of
a note to the Spanish commissioners
The authorities in Washington will not
make public the terms OF the note but
| its general tenor is that the United States
will not be satisfied with any further de-
lay in the evacuation of Cuba. 1t is to
| called for the immediate evacuation OF
Cuba and that Spanish sovereignty must
be relinquished Thel American commits
sioners have been informed that the evac-
uation of Cuba cannot be delayed.
| 1t is probable that of Agonollo and
| Lopez, the two representatives of Aguin-
aldo, who arrived yesterday at San Fran
cisco, call at the White House on their
way through Washingto to Paris, they
will be admitted, to see President McKin-
ley, but only as individuals and not as
representatives of any government The
President doubtless would be glad to hear
any views these Filipinos might care to
set forth, being fresh from the Islands
and thoroughly acquainted with the wish
es of the insurgents.
But it would be plainly impolite and in
consistent for the President at this date
and pending the conclusion of the peace
conference at Paris, to allow it to be
understood, by according a formal recep-
tfon to the delegates, that he had thereby
recognized the Philippine government as
an independent nationality. His attitude
towards the Filipinos would be similar
to that assumed by him towards the
Cubans
AS the Filipinos have repeatedly by
public declaration sought to convey the
impression that the United States repre-
sentatives in Manila have at some time
during the progress of the war recognized
Aguinaldo as an independent and enter
ed into formal cooperat on with him, it
may be stated that the Government at
Washington is unaware that any such
thing has happened.
Admiral Dewey, who was in command
Of all the United States forces during the
most critical period, expressly cabled the
Secretary of the Navy that he had enter
ed into no formal agreement with Aguin-
aldo If General Otis followed his instruc-
tions, and of that there can be no doubt
he also refrained from entering into any
entangling agreements.
AS for Consul General Wildman any
undertaking he may have assumed with
Aguinaldo must have been upon his own
personal and individual responsibility, and
would be without formal standing, mas
much as he had not the express authori-
zation from the State Department, abso
lutely requisite to negotiations in such
cases.
Therefore as the case now stands, the
Peace Commissioners are free to deal
with the Philippine problem at Paris
absolutely without restriction beyond that
which might be supposed to rise from
sense of mral bligatin to avoid commits
ting the Philippines again into the hands
of their late rulers.
Following the custom in the case. of
Minister who has been obliged to leave
his post at the breaking out of histili-
ties. Stewart L. Woodford has filed his
resignation as Minister to Spain. It is
believed that it will be six months before
the United States has occasion to send
Minister to Madrid again, and if Mr..
Woodfords resignation remains SO long
unacted upon. his status will be merely
nominal, for. under the law, his salary
ceased after the expiration of sixty days
from the date he left his post with the
addition of sufficient period of time to.
enable him to return to the United States.
1t might have been possible for General
Woodford to have returned to Madrid in
the capacity of United States Minister,
but this would only have been the case
had the Spanish Government seen fit to
make a request to that effect. Other
wise it is customary for polite reasons,
to send new Minister TO hvoid the re-
vival of bitter feelings and to restore
harmony.