The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-06
From Consul wiIdmnn.


Consul Wildman, at Hong Kong. on Nov
3, telegraphed that Gen. AgonciIlo was
coming to Washington. He said: He has
power to make treaties with foreign gov
ernments, and has proposed an offensive
and defensive alliance with the United
States"
Agoncillo asked for arms to aid the re-
bellion. Acting Secretary Cridler on Dec.
Is replied telling Widman to "advlse
Agoncillo that the United States does nor
negotiate treaties, and 1t is not possible
TO forward arms You should not encour-
age any tendency on the part of Agoncillo
to Communicate with the department.
A long letter of date of July IS. from
Counsel Wildman, defends Agoncillo as a
man who had been Systematically black
ened. He says:
According 10 his own statement. he has
been approached by Spain and Germany
and has had tempting offers from the
Catholic Church"
Avoided the Insurgents.
April %, Consul Pratt telegraphed from
Singapore:
"Aguinaldo gone my instance Hong Kong
arrange with Dewey cooperation insurg-
ents Manila"
June 20 Secretary DAY telegraphed Pratt
among other things.
avoid any negotiations with Philip
pine insurgents"
Pratt replied that he had no intention of
negotiating. Says he.
Left that Dewey who desires Aguinaldo
come
Secretary Day again admonished Pratt
to be cautious to create no impression that
might embarrass the government and lead
TO misunderstanding i'm it's future action.
July Pratt reported TO the department
that the Sultan of the Sulu Islands was
negotiating at Singapore for the annexa-
ton of his group to British Borneo, which
he said should be watched.
Merritt's Statement.
All Of the statements made by Gen. Mer-
rift before the American commission at
Paris appear in the document. In sub
stance he said the insurgents would fight
if the attempt was made TO surrender Luz
zon to Spain; Spain could not reduce the
Islands unalded Asked whether the in
surgents were capable of government, he
replied that IL would take time; they
would have TO be educated up TO It, Sen
ator Frye asked If the natives would en-
list under the American flag, and If Agui-
naldo could be given command. He re-
Piled in the affirmative to both questions.
Further, he said that Maj. Bells report
showed that the insurgents had $500
stands of arms, Aguinaldo has 100000 in
bank in Hong Kong, and $22O,0O0 of public
funds In Bacoor. Mai. Bell expressed the
opinion that If the United States should
govern the islands for a year Aguinaldo
would have no army left.
Greene on AguinaIdO.
Gen. Greene's statement Is also produced.
He said there were IA, 600 Spanish prisoners
IN the Philippines, including 400 officers,
with 22,O00 arms and % 100000 rounds of
ammunition. He described Aguinaldo's
character and said that much tact would
be required in dealing with him. In his
opinion the chieftain did not command the
support of a large body of Filipinos.
Then it must be remembered that the in
surgents were all Tagalos, only one of
the thirty races in the Philippines. At the
time he spoke none of the 900 Visayas,
a people of equal abilities. had taken any
part He was asked what chance there
would be for native government, to which
he replied.
NO native government can maintain it,
self without the active support of a strong
foreign government 1t is difficult to see
how any foreign government can give this
protection without taking such an active
part in the management of affairs as is
practically equivalent TO its own name"
There is a vast amount of other matter
included in the papers extracts from news
papers, long special reports on the
mineral and other resources of
the islands, historical treaties sta
tistical statements of values of
imports and exports; and, in fact, they
comprise an encyclopedia Of the Philip
pine Islands.