The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-30

snuituiation "a wear their side arms, Il was ex-
tended also TO the Filipino Officers. but II was
good order they leave their reyolyers at home;
The arms captured from the Filipinos would
he r eItr, That The Was st the ' oniy conditioa preCe.
Posal formally, but by writing his own reply
This Communication from Gen Merritt 70
ARulnaldo was delayed two or three, days. and
managed % get in with arms IN spite Of the
situation from our point Of view grew worse
rather than better; In response 70 MeIritt,s
former long list having been cut down BY
Merritt's concessions, These three .proposi-
lions were a demand nonU for the original ,Sd arot line
II waters controlled, by the XmSriesns and
Americans should return the city TO Spain as
the reeult, OF the work Of the Paris Commis-
sion. the, insurgents would be left In possess
sion If all they now hold,
Gen. Merritt left for Paris without answering
t abes letter ct tro;s and Ge T. 9 SdS P f6 So o UP NJ III in RSoIe
correspondence from the beginning and to
pick up all the threads and ends of the situa.
TO Aguinaldo that Il would take some time for
him TO famlliarize himself sufficiently with the
matter to answer the last letter intelligently.
AGuinoldo didn't care, OF course. II gave him
more time to occupy the places he held in the
that way the better his position grew. There
were. constant accessions to his strength in
the city his %pTlncipsl holdings being in T99ndo:
one Of the five principal roads leading from the
city is occupied by his forces at some point or
vents and schools In which his men are quar-
tered and over which his flag flies undistnrbed.
All told. he has between 5000 and 1000 men
in the limits Of the territory surrendered by
Jandenes to Merritt.
stS Ge9' o 9t tSa made @be, as s farstG, and nd e : man cnSls 4
who had not been a participant in the earlier
proceedings. The dominant fact, OF course. is
We cnnnot divide the responsibility and we
whom we cannot undertake to be responsible.
We are bound absolutely by the terms OF the
f Sas nosRiDg' to and do T now With fhe ou wS actions T,ns OF II f9 e
was u mistake, we must abide by the conse-
quences. Not the less must we insist upon our
necessary. Ali, this Gen. otis wrote to
Agninaldo in a long letter. which was a clear;
made a careful summing up of the opera
tons Of the Americans and the insurgents
Gen. Otis ascribed full praise and credit to
that we. could not forget the help the Ameri-
it would have been for him to achieve any.
thing, like the measure OF success that had
which no. only destr Dyed the Spanish war:
ships, which could always have prevented
prevented the sending. Of rcinforcements OF
men and ships to the beleaguered city. He
added meg,ct that = 1 when pr9If6Ssed th to o c9pf net the
obstacles, and served notice on Aguina!do to
remove his forces from the jurisdictional limits
forcibly removed by the Americans. The sub
stance of this letter, with its outline of the
TO Washington and approved by the Govern
ment., Now. as far as the Americans are con.
S Ss FIsbt. it Mb z Sas Will Ti se d ASHinaldo of get out
The letter Of Gen. Otis was delivered to
fRsff sEG@ H Hek1 %as II kiMHs sS aa a SFsaf his Say pe a9r
come him and pay him homage. They called
him the George Washington Of the Filiplnos.
speeches. and Celebrated with music and song.
Bands played and banners decorated the city.
I was waiting for an interview with AGuinaldo.
had in his pocket the letter from Gen. Otis. It
was more than a skeleton at the feast. The
Army blue and was walking about mingling
with the jewellers. And none Of them knew
plno republic they were toasting and cheering
SO joyfully and trustfully. Aguinaldo received
f I meats LATTER to aR MN re and II nS Dddfs1ailyd5 What He k \ tsrp al
bile danger stood in the way. of his most dear
ambition. Yet he came buck among, his glad
people and moved about talking to them and
with them. with q smile on his impressive face.
and that in his bearing which was. a perfect
He had found time after reading the letter
TO give me a short interview. I asked him to
Of his own hope for his own people. Of their
desires and OF the object for which they are
When the rebellion began the sole idea. OF
the FilipinoS was the attainm ent of their in
dependence. but since the Americans have
fere in the Philippines. the F~ilipinos hope to
gain some reward from the Americans in re-
9TH f toF 81 fh SIoo sra an9f Of T tPeSs aae n. ahet the ea iine of
recognition, OF their liberty"
~ It was Va s sid after ne r. careful 4 diehIi aS Sthm and it
stood for some time that .Aeuinaldo had re-
Geded from his, ambition Of absolute indepen,
public acknowledgment Of his change Of view.
Later in the afternoon l had a long talk with
We discussed fully and frankly, the terms OF
Gen. Otis's letter and what 1t meant for the
p p1iielRiGs co ona Eae canGof ON both bh sides vans q mo-
beating, about the bush. 1t began with q re-
quest d that they - tell ado me frankly r FEd why the !, FIJI;
Americans, and Withdraw from the city.
If we had any assurance" they replied.
ands to spain. we would do t gladly ''' 81
That Is q Spanish He. Invented solely in the
gents and the. Americans, Don't. you. know
S 5s%Is f sDd sP|sRIn Hd FRst E f; t6st they will not re-
have no assurance from America that that will
1T is impossible for the Americans to give
such an. assurance. without dishonor. 1t Is
impossible for the American Government to
make such an assurance while It Is treating
with Spain. BY the terms Of the capitula-
who are obligated to safeguard life and prop
cannot share the responsibility. and they can
not permit the occupation of the city by them
selves and an armed force not their ~allies.",
But" said the councillors. IF there could be
a recognition by the Americans OF our bellig-
erency IL would be all right"
Don't you understand that euch q recoG-
milton Is impossible while the United States
are treating for peace with Spain? How can
we grant belligerent rights, to her enemy
basis without dishonor?"
But our position, In the city" they said,
rs not against the Americans. 1t is against
the Spanish alone. II we should retire and
then the Americans. should go away leaving
us in q worse position than we are now our
people would cut OFF our heads"
Gen. Otis has been ordered by his Govern
ment to insist that the Insurgents withdraw
from ths city; II they do not he must force
I'VE should be very. sorry TO. have any
trouble. bnt we must hold our position" said