The Portland daily press., 1898-09-27
THE PHILIPPINE PROBLEM.
A Statement To American People BY
Aguinaldo's Ambass ador.

Chicago, September 26 The Tribune's
staff correspondent on board the overland
limited telegraphs from Carroll, Iowa,
that Felipe Agencillo, the first accredited
emissary of Aguinaldo's revolutionary
government TO any foreign power, with
his secretary and interpreter, will pro-
coed direct to- Washington to lay before
President Mckinley the appeal of the
Filipinos for representation on the com
mission at Paris.
If officially represented on the commits
sion cannot be granted, he will urge that
the administration at Washington in JUS
tice to the people of the Philippines
should secure for him the right to be
heard by the commission in order that
any unjust charges or false accusations
against the Filipinos which the Spanish
members of the commission may set forth
shall not go unanswered.
Following Is Agencillo's formal state
ment to the American people of his mis-
sion and the grounds on which he bases
his appeal:
ISL is necessary to grant to the Philip
pine people official representation in the
course of the discussion of the Spanish
commission in Paris, or that the provis-
ional government or it's official represen-
tative be heard before this Spanish
American commission shall reach any
decision regarding the Philippines
sit is Justice that the Pnlhpplne peo-
pie should not be undefended for it might
happen that the representatives of Spain
would make formidable charges against
the Filipinos and in lack of representa-
ton from the Philippines these charges
might be credited.
'fThat it is inadmissable under the
most rudimentary beginning of natural
on1 rae hat
the Filipinos should be without hear
ing"
OF conditions in the Philippine islands
and the hopes and wishes Of the FillpinoS
this is what Agencillo says:
"If the outcome Of the peace negoti-
ations shall be that this government is
given control of the islands have not
foreign powers the islands would be we'll
and orderly governed. When left Hong
Kong there were in assent bly, 100 repre-
sentatiyes coming from all the provinces
of tn 9 Luzon and from several islands
and I expect to learn upon reaching
Washington that still moro have been
chosen. These representatives are the
most popular mon in their provinces and
the people generally have confidence in
their government.
"As to the power of the Filipino gov
eminent to control the islands and main
tain order, providing the Spanish forces
are Withdrawn, 1 have no misgivings.
There are 80, 600 armed men in its army.
Some of the arms came from Germany
and the statements that have been made
that the Filipinos al Q secretly connivipg
with the Germans are false and unjust.
1t is true that few days after the de-
struction of the Spanish fleet in Manila,
representatives of the German empire
made proposals to the insurgents to aid
them in forming an independent govern
ment. This offer was refused, the reply
being made to the Germans that under
an agreement entered into between
Aguinaldo and Admiral Dewey the in
surgents were in honor bound to refuse
the offer"
Agencillo was asked what would be
the attitude of the Filipinos and the
provisional government II the outcome
Of the peace, negotiationssshould be that
the islands should pass into the hands OF
the United States. either for temporary
or permanent control. He replied:
"Whether or not the Filipinos would
forcibly resist such disposition of the
islands, cannot state. The question will
go before the assembly and Aguinaldo'
attitude must under the constitution tie
determined by action of that body The
form of the provisional government is
Republican. But will say that the feel
ing Of the people with regard to the CUES
ton would depend largely upon what
form of government the Americans would
propose. If it meant simply the control
of the islands by the United States, the
government of this country assuming
the responsibility of maintaining good
order and controlling the revenues OF
the island, I do not think the feeling
against such move would be strong,
though the Filipinos are anxious to gov
ern themselves, but il it should be planned
that the United States take the islands
for the purpose of colonization, which
population. in my opinion there would
be great difficulty in bringing the peo-
pie of the islands to submission.
"Our appeal to the United States is for
aid in securing what we most desire and
what we believe to be for the best inter
ests of the islands. 1t is not made for
the purpose of placing them in the, hands
Of any other nation, and if the Filipinos
are not to govern themselves there is no
nation they would more wish to be gov.
erned by than the United States. "
Agsncillo and his secretary are travel
ling with Major General Green and his
aides, Capt. W. q. Rates and Lieut.
Schuyler Schieffelin.
Major General Green goes to Washing
ton to give the administration his views
on the same questions. He therefore felt
bound by the etiquette of his position to
refrain from making any statement with
regard to his view of the possibility of
the Filipinos establ shiDg stable govern
ment. it was apparent, however, from
what he said that he did not share Agen-
cillo's belief that the provisional govern
ment would have plain sailing if left to
govern the island single-handed.
az left the American army in the best
of health, and as far as could judge,
in good shape and spirits, said Gen.
Green. "Of course great many of thu
soldiers would like to get back home. but
there is no sickness or suffering among
them to make their lot a hardship There
have been times when the army was short
of food, but that was before Manila and
its harbors were in our hands and was
due to the fact that the southwest wind
beating into the bay made it impossible
sometimes for days at time to land
supplies At such times the men and
officers were ON short rations.
'tIhe American soldiers have made a
proud record at Manila for self control
and good order, and this fact has gone
far to make favorable impression on
the minds of the people there concern
ing the character OF the people of the
United States. What they dread most is
that the jalauds chould 90 back into th q