Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-07
GENERAL AGUINALDO IN FAVOR OF
ANNEXATION.
PHILIPPINE CORRESPONDENCE
WILLIAMS AND WILnMAN WRITE
FROM FAR EAST.
Early Official War News at Last Given
Out-Splendid Work of American
DiplOmats-Interest In
side History Made
Public.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 6.-The CORE.
! spondence published officially in connection
| with the peace treaty contains much of in
terest from Consul Williams, who was sta
toned at Manila prior to the war. He was
j in constant communication with Aguinado
for some time after the battle of Manila
BAY ard his letters throw much light upon
the relations with the Philippine chieftan.
| AS early as February -, last. Mr.. Will
| Jams wrote:
1.-THE governor general. who is amiable
and popular. having resigned, wished credit
| for pacification, and certain rebel leaders
| We're given a cash bribe of 1850. 900 to con-
sent TO public deportation to China. This
bribe and deportation. he adds. 'only
of discontents"
On March - he complained that letters
| and kilograms were tampered with.
| He speaks of the influence of the church
| as the greatest bar to progress in the ISL
, ands. Mr.. Williams also stated that every
| leisure hour was devoted to the inspection
| Of the forts, arsenals and battleships in
and about Manila, even at that early day.
| and that he was sending information thus
| derived to Commodore Dewey, who, with
his feet. was then at Hong Kong. Spies
| were so thick that he did not dare copy his
, dispatches in Office books.
| Mr.. Williams left Manila on April %.
| He was a witness of Dewey's victory, and
on May y resumed his reports from Cavite.
| His first dispatch of that date begins with
the assurance of 'the friendliness of the
| Philippine natives to our country and to
| me as its representative.
| Scores of times" he continues, II have
| heard hopes expressed that either the
| United States or Great Britain would ac-
quire these islands,"
Favors Annexation.
"Aguinaldo told me today he writes on
June Is, that his friends all hoped that
the Philippines would be held as a colony
| of the United States. This was only
| four days after the first formation of a
| provisional government by the natives Mr..
| Williams says he was invited to be present
when this government was organized by
the Filipinos. but that he declined. For
this he afterward received a note of ap-
proval from the state department.
On August he wrote:
1T has been my study to keep on pleas
ant terms with Aguinaldo for ultimate OBJ
jects. Admiral Dewey says I have planted
the seeds of cordial cooperation. Ny
agreement with Aguinaldo has been that
the conditions of government by the United
States in the Philippine islands would be
vastly better for him and his people in
honor. advancement and profit than could
exist under any plan fixed by himself and
| Fllipinos. | have traversed. the entire
ground of government with him in coun.
Gill; and he has called his officials from
fifteen provinces TO meet for their discus.
sion. all stated as friendly but unofficial or
my part"
On September 5. Mr.. Williams cabled
To-day delegations from 1900 Visayar
soldiers. and also representing Southern
business interests. came to me pledgins
loyalty to annexation. Several insurgen;
leaders likewise. Spain cannot control. II
we evacuate. anarchy rules"
Wildman's Views.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Con July IS Con-
sui Wildman wrote to the secretary of
state, expressing his views on the then
reported policy of the United States gov
return to Spain. Among other things, he
said after giving the particulars of his
long residence and intimate acquaintance
among the people of the Straits settlement:
Il consider the forty or fifty Philippine
leaders with whose fortunes I have been
very closely connected both the superiors
of the Malays and the Cubans. Aguinaldo
Agoncillo and Sandico are all men who
, would be leaders in their separate depart
wealthy Manila men who live in Hong
Kong and who are spending their money
literally for the overthrow of the Span.
iards and the annexation to the United
States, men like the Cortez family and the
Para family would hold their own among
bankers and lawyers anywhere. Iii spite
of statements to the contrary, l know they
2 | are fighting for annexation to the United
4 States first and for independence secondly
~,,,ty,
leaders call on me and say they would moi
: raise one finger unless could assure then
that the United States intended to civ,
, | them United States citizenship If the!
: wanted it.
: There has been systematic attempt t.
blacken the name of Aguinaldo and hi
9 cabinet account of the questiona b
5 terms of their surrender to Spanish force
d a wear ago this month 1t has been said tina
S they sold their country for gold, but thi
has been conclusively disproved. not onl
: by their own statements, but by the speecl
V of the late Governor General Rivera in tn
t | Spanish senate. l was in Hong Kong II
a September 1897, when ASuinaldo and hi
| leaders arrived under contract with TN
Spanish government. They waited until tn
lst of November for the payment of tn
money promised for the widows and or
E phans Of the insurgents and the fuiftllmen
of promised reforms. Only $4o0.oeo Mexi
can was ever placed to tneV credit
Mr. Widmau says that on the breakln
: out of the var he received delegation
Il from the insurgent iunta and they boun
:, themselves absolutely under the orders Q
: Admiral Dewey if they were permitted [
Il return to Manila.
= He SAYS that on April 81, after anothe
8 conference lie agreed on behalf of Dewe
r to allow two of the insurgent delegation
d TO accompany the fleet TO Mania. ne soin
"a with them. 1t was only later that he pre-
= vailed on Admiral Dewey to allow ASun
q aldo to go. Referring to Aguinaldos organ
0 iZation of a government, he says Ii was al
e soluteiy necessary to take such a step |
!. maintain control over the natives.
e In conclusion, Mr. Wildman says:
! Il wish to put myself On record as sta
: ing that the insurgent government OF th
e Philippine islands cannot be dealt with a
: though they were North American lr
II dans willing to be removed from on
e reservation to another at the whEl c
their masters. Ii the United states ct
cides not to retain the Philippine island:
its IO0CO0 600 people will demand indepsne
. ence and the attempt of any foreign ms
ton to obtain territory or coalnS alton
: . will be resisted with the same spirit wit
= which they fought the Spaniards."
Warned Against PledRes.
The correspondence shows that Mr Wilt
man was warned not 10 make pledges
N discuss policy with Aguinaldo and that
't reulied that he made him no pledges an
hi l,rrf two n