The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-12
ALLIANCE WITH AGUINALD0.
NEGOTIATIONS BEGUN BEFORE
WAR WITH SPAIN BEGUN.

Independent Government for the
Philippines Under American and
European Protcctoratc Ports
Open to the World.
Vancouver, b. c., June 1L-some very
| Interesting information was brought by
the steamer Empress of Japan from Hong
! Kong regarding negotiations between the
Philippine rebel chief and the United
States at Singapore
1t seems that just before the actual out
break of hostilities between Spain and the
United States, Singapore was the scene
OF secret political arrangement by which
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo y Femi. supreme
head Of the revolutionary movement in the
Philippines, entered into direct relations
With Admiral Dewey while that officer
was still at Hong Kong.
In order to understand and appreciate
this interesting historical incident proper
iy it will be necessary to allude to the
causes leading to this second appearance
of the rebellion an the Philippines. which
was almost coincident with, though not
instigated by, the strained relations be-
| tween Spain and the United States.
In December last Gen. Primo de Rivera,
| intimate knowledge of the country and its
| inhabitants, found the position untenab bic
| for both parties. Neither of these had
the remotest chance to terminate the re-
| bellion decisively, the rebels being secure
| In their mountain Businesses, the Span
iards holding the chief towns and villages
| on the coast
| Primo de Rivera, therefore, sent ten well
known Philippine natives, occupying high
positions in Manila, to propose terms of
peace to Aguinaldo In Biac ma Bato. A
| council of the revolutionary government
| was held, in which IL was agreed to lay
down their arms on condition of certain re-
| forms being introduced
Primo de Rivera agreed to these reforms
| in substance, and made its condition that
| the principal rebel leaders must leave the
| country during his majesty's pleasure
AS these leaders had lost all of their
property, or had 1t confiscated and plum
| dered the government agreed to provide
them with funds to live In a becoming
manner on foreign soil. The rebels laid
down their arms, and peace was appar-
emily secured but no sooner had they done
so and returned to their houses than the
intransgeant religious orders commenced
at once again to prosecute them and trump
up imaginary charges to procure their re-
arrest
The Spanish government on its side, i'm
agining itself secure desisted from carry
ing out the promised reform, thinking an
other trick Ike that played on the Cubans
after the peace arrangement by Martinez
CampoS might succeed. The Philippine
ans, however, refused to be made dupes
ana have taken up arms again, not alone
in the immediate districts around Manila,
but throughout the archipelago.
Gen. Aguinaldo accompanied by his aide
de camp, Col. Marcelo Fl. del Pillar and
private secretary, J. Deba, arrived in
cognito in Singapore from Saigon on April
Is. In Saigon, where Aguinaldo had re-
manned for one week. he had interviewed
onetor two old Philippean friends now re-
siding there-7 The special purpose of
Aguinaldos visit to Singapore was to con-
suit other friends there particularly How
ard w. Bray an old and intimate Eng
lish friend, for fifteen years a resident In
the Philippines, about the affairs of the
islands generally, particularly as to the
possibility of war between the United
States and Spain, and whether In the
event of success the United States would
eventually recognize the independence of
the Philippines. provided he lent his CO.
operation to the Americans IN the con-
quest of the country
The situation was this: That the condi-
lions of the honorable peace concluded on
Dec. IA, 1897 between Asunaldo on behalf
of the Philippine rebels and Governor Cen
eral Primo de Rivera, on bealf of Spain,
had not been carried out, although their
immediate execution had been vouched for
| In the agreement. These reforms could
have provided protection to the people
against organized oppression and rapacIty,
| religious fraternities, and would have Sc
cured improved civilization and criminal
procedure In courts, and have made good
In many ways the provisional conditions
of the people. The reputation by the
Spanish government of these conditions
made by Rivera, left these rebel leaders
who had for the most part gone to Hong
Kong, free to act. And It was in pursu-
ance of that freedom of action that Agui-
naldo again sought counsel of friends In
Saigon and Singapore with a view of the
immediate resumption of hostilities in the
| Philippines.
Meanwhile Mr.. Bray was introduced to
Spencer Prat, consul general of the United
States. who was anxious in view OF the
contingencies to learn about the situation
in the Philippines
1t was few days after that Aguinaldo
arrived at Singapore, where he met his
friend, Mr. Bray.
Affairs were now becoming more war
like. Mr.. Bray, after d conversation with
Consul General Pratt, eventually arranged
for an interview between that gentleman
and Aguinaldo There were present Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo Femi. f. Spencer
Pratt, consul general of the United States
of America; Howard Bray, Aguinaldos
private secretary; J. Leiba, Col. NJ II. del
Pillar and Marizelno Santos.
during the conference at which Mr..
Bray acted as interpreter. Agulnaldo ex-
planned to the American consul general in
cdents and objects of the late rebellion,
and described the present disturbed state
OF the country.
Aguinaldo then proceeded to detail the
nature of the cooperation he could give.
in which he, in the event of the American
forces from the squadron landing and TAX
ing possession of Manila, viii guarantee to
maintain order and discipline among the
native troops and inhabitants In the same
humane way in which he had hitherto
conducted the war, and prevent them from
committing outrages on defenseless Span
iards, beyond the inevitable In fair and
honorable warfare. He declared his abli-
~ to establish a responsible government
on liberal principles. and would be willing
to accept the same terms for the country
as the United States intended to give
Cuba,
The consul general placed himself at
once in telegraphlc communication with
Admiral Dewey at Hong Kong, between
whom he and Mr. Pratt frequent inter-