The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-09-22
ASKS FOR A
CONFERENCE
InSurgent Leader Sends Ennis
SarieS Into our Lines.
New Move Difficult to
Explain -Pretends He is Willing
to Release American Captives-
Gilmore and his Men May be Ac-
companied to Manila by FiIipinos
Who will Confer with Otis.

Washington, Sept. %. Aguinaldo
wants to reopen negotiations with Gen
eral Otis, according to this dispatch, re-
ceived by Adjutant General Corbin from
the American commander in chief at Ma
Mia:
Macarthur reports from Angeles visit
of two insurgent officers, with request for
permission to send into our lines Ameri
can prisoners and to send to Manila
prominent insurgent general officer for
| conference. The requested interview
granted, and insurgent officers at Angeles
return north this morning with informa-
| ton"
| While there is nothing to indicate
whether the proposed conference is to
deal with anything except the surrender
of American prisoners, officials here hope
| it is the beginning of the end, and that
the ilipino emissary will bring some
definite proposition for terminating the
war. General Otis will accept nothing
short of absolute surrender and submis-
sion to American authority, and it is
doubted whether Aguinaldo is ready to
accept such terms at present.
Since the former negotiations fell
though it has been believed here that the
end of the insurrection could only be look
ed for after more long fighting. A propo-
sition to reopen negotiations had not been
looked for during the comparative mac
tivity enforced by the rainy season. 1t is
| possible, however, tnat Agunialdo has
| learned through the insurgent junta at
| Hongkong of the preparations being
made by the United States to send an
overwhelming force to Manila and has
come to realize the hopelessness of fur
ther resistance.
War Preparations Will Go On.
| Whatever may be the proposals made
| by the insurgents, there will be no relax
alton on the part of the war department
| OF it's purpose to send re-enforcements to
| Manila as rapidly as possible. The re-
cruting of volunteer regiments will be
continued and the troops will be forward
ed by transports as fast as the vessels
are available. II Aguinaldo is simply
sparring for time, as is thought likely, he
| will gain nothing by such tactics.
| General Otis cablegram formed lead
| ing theme for discussion at the cabinet
meeting. Three Of the cabinet members
| agreed in expressing their opinions after
| the meeting that too much significance
should not be attached to Aguinaldo's
proposal Secretary Root himself said
that so many similar conferences in the
past had come to naught that he doubted
whether this one meant much toward the
establishment of peace.
1t is not probable that Aguinaldo in
tends simply to propose an exchange Of
| prisoners, for it has not been the policy
| of the American commanders to keep
many Filipino prisoners. The natives
who have been captured have been de-
prived of their arms and have generally
been liberated unless there was special
reason for keeping them In restraint. If
Aguinaldo proposes to release the Amer
| lean prisoners held by him his action
would be an indication Of his apprecia-
| ton of the American treatment of Fill
pino prisoners.
| 1t Is hoped here that Aguinaldo intends
to release all the Americans held by him,
| including Lieutenant Gilmore of the
Yorktown and the sailors captured with
him, as we'll as Captain Rockefeller, who
was captured beyond the American lines,
and half a dozen or more American sol
diers who are missing and are supposed
| to have been taken prisoners
The war department has approved the
action of Otis in refusing to allow Span
sh ships to go to ports controlled by the
insurgents to take away Spanish prison
ers. These ships, however, will be al
lowed to proceed to such ports under the
escort of vessels of the United States.
| The transfer of the Spanish prisoners to
The ships will be under the direction of
United States officers. The war depart
| ment will allow no communication be-
tween Aguinaldo and his agents and the
Spaniards who may go to take away the
| Spanish prisoners.