The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-09
APPEAL TO POWERS
Aeuinaldo Asks Europe to Recognize
Bellieerency Of Fillpinos.
GIVES GROUND FOR HISAPPEAL
Has Possession Of the Whole Country
with Exception Of Manila.
PRISONERS CAPTURED FROM SPAIN
He Points to as Evidence that He Had
Fought Successfully.
SMALL ATTENTION WILL BE GIVEN III
II Ia Believed Mt the state DEPART
mcnt mt Neutrality-suspicious.
Action Explained.
He Points to as Evidence that He Had
Fought Successfully.
SMALL ATTENTION WILL BE GIVEN IT

NduiIi, august ., 4.Du p. m.--aSulntiut
has appealed to the powers for "recogni.
ton of the Filipino Independence in
document dated from Tarlac July ~, and
signed by Puencam!no. 1t has been re.
ceived by all the foreign consuls In Manila
with the request that they forward 1t tc
their respective governments. The Fill
pinos use their old argument that they
had conquered the sovereignty of these
islands from Spain before the signing
of the treaty of Paris, and therefore,
Spain was in no position to cede them 10
the United States. They argue that the
posse ssion of 1000 Spanish prisoners cap
tured with their arms fighting against the
Filipincs SIS eloquent proof of the nudity
of the Spanish sovereignty. as when they
surrendered Spain's hold was irrevocably
| lost"
The document then says: Replying
to the Spanish commissioners request to
release the prisoners because Spain no
longer has political interests IN the island,
We asked for a treaty Of peace and friend
ship between Spain and the Filipinos
when the prisoners were released But
the mlssioners refused because 1t
would mean recognition of our independ-
ence. This is equivalent to saying that
prisoners must stay in our hands in
definitely because their possession is our
most effcacious method to adjust our
account with Spain and obtain from her
recognition Of our Independence.
The Filpinos claim that they conquered
kall the country except Manila and that
they co-operaied In securing the latter's
capltulatlon By surrounding II at the cost
II thousands Of lives. They also claim
they conquered the country unassisted
except for sixty guns that Admiral Dewey
gave Agunaldo aud that Admiral Dewey
and the British and Belgian consuls recog-
nized the Filipinos' sovereignty by ask
ing fer passes to visit the country.
They repeat the claim that they lhlve
letters from American consuls and gen
erals "recc gnizing their sovereignty and
promising that the Americans would
recognize their Independence" The Fill
pinos attempt to make capital OF the state
ment that Admiral Dewey had such con-
fdenGe that Aguinaldo would serve ana
fulfill the rules of war that he gave him
a hundred Spanish prisoners which tho
American navy had captured.
Finally the Filipinos appeal to the pow
ers to influence Washington to bring to
termination "the unjust war which Is
devastating the country"
Washington. August S.-The state de-
partment Is entirely without information
as TO the address by Aguinaldo to the for
egn powers for the recognition of the
Filipinos either as belligerents or as con-
sttuting an Independent government. The
appeal is looked upon, however, as creating
no particular change, as 1t has been the
desire OF Agunaido and his assistants
from the FIRST to secure such recognition.
The appeal puts this desire into rather
formal shape and it may bring to an issue
the attitude OF outside governments. There
is no apprehension, however, OF any for
eign government needing the address. The
international usage as to recognition was
quite fully developed during the Cuban
instruction, at which time the
question was exclusively discussed
in congress and was the subject OF lengthy
consideration In the messages of the presi-
dent. The general view at that time was
that recognition of beiligerency was not
in itself casus belli Up>to the present
time there has been no intimation to the
entertained the remotest idea OF giving
recognition to Aguinaldo and his assist
ants.
On the contrary there has been most
friendly feeling maintained between this |
government and foreign powers throughout
the Philippine conflict. The state de- |
partment does not share the apprehension |
which is said TO have arisen among army |
officers that China has given indirect rec
ignition to the Filipinos. This apprehen- |
sion grew out OF report from General |
Otis that horses could not be secured |
for cavalry use from China because they |
were "contraband OF war"
At the state department II 10 said that |
the matter has not assumed form in
volving a recognition Of state OF war, |
but that Minister Conger' reports ChinaB
course is due entirely to certain domes-
tic regulations prohibiting the expectation
of hoESss or ponies.
Some time ago General Otis made requi-
0ition on the war department for $500
horses TO mount the cavalry In the Philip
pines. He stated In the dispatch that the
horses from the North were satisfactory
and that the contracts for them In China
had failed. the words "contraband OF war"
being added
The matter was then referred TO the
state department for Investigation and
Minister copger on June wrote letter
to Secretary Hay. enclosing tee corre-
spondence that had passed between the
Chinese foreign office and himself rela-
tive to the refusal OF China to allow the
ponies to be exported IT appears from
this correspondence that 2. s. Dalton had
contracted at Tien Tsin for seventy-hye
ponies and twenty-five mules, but was
refused an export pass. Minister Ccnger.
upon Investigation. found that the refusal
was hased unon law OF China prohibits