The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-03
COMMISSION MAKES REPORT.
STATUS OF AFFAIRS IN THE PHIL
IPPINE ISLANDS.


Between AguinaIdo and Admiral
Dewey--Many other Interesting
Features Touched Upon.
Washington, Nov. 2.--In accordance with
the understanding reached at the confer
ence at the White House yesterday, the
Philippine Commission to-day submitted
to the President the preliminary report
which II had promised to prepare.
The report appears TO be a compact suns
mary OF conditions on the islands as the
commission left them. Of the historical
events which preceded the Spanish war
and led to the original Filipino insurrec-
ton: of the exchanges between Admiral
Dewey and the other American commando
ers and the insurgents; the breaking out
and progress of the present insurrection
and, finally, statement of the capacity
of the Biliplnos for self-government.
A notable feature of the report is a mem-
orandum by Admiral Dewey explanatory
of his relations with Aguinaldo.
The commission tells briefly how It con-
Quoted the task entrusted to It. hearing
statements from oil classes of people in
Manila as to the capabilities OF the Fill
pinos for self-government, the habits and
customs Of the people. and also the estab-
lishment OF municipal governments In
many towns All this matter is to be In
cluded In the final report.
Turning to the history OF the islands the
commission attaches little importance to
the divers rebellions which had preceded
that OF 1896 As TO this movement they
| declare that II was in no sense an attempt
to win independence. but solely to obtain
relief from intolerable abuses. To sus-
tain this statement they quote from an in
surgent proclamation issued at the time.
The report then tells OF the insurrection
| which ended Qy Spain buying Off Agui-
na'do and his followers.
The war began in 1886 was terminated by
the treaty of Blac-Na-Bate.
The provisions of the treaty were never
carrier out Spanish abuses began afresh.
in Manila alone more than 20l men being
executed Hence sporadic risings &C.
CURED, though they possessed nothing
like the strength of the original move
| ment. The report then tells how Gen.
Augustln came TO Manila as governor
general at this juncture and war broke
out between Spain and the United States.
| Augustin sought to secure the support of
the Filipinos TO defend Spain against
America. promising them autonomy. but
\ the blipinOS did not trust MIN.
AguinnIdo and Dewey.
| Then came the first Of May and the de-
etructlon Of the Spanish fleet by Dewey
With the resulting loss Of prestige 10
Spain. Then IN June, Aguinaldo came.
| on this point the commission says:
1.-THE following memorandum on the sub
| iect has been furnished the commission
| by Admiral Dewey
Memorandum of Relations With Agui-
naldo
"on April "a, 1898, the following cipher
dispatch was received at Hong Kong from
| Mr.. t. Spencer Pratt, United States cons
sui general at Singapore:
'Aguinado, insurgent leader, here.
VIII come Hong Kong, arrange with Com
modore for general cooperation insurgents
Manila II desired. Telegraph Pratt
ION the same day Commodore Dewey
| telegraphed Mr. Pratt:
Tell Aguinaldo come soon as possible,s
| the necessity for haste being due to the
| fact that the squadron mad been notified
| by the Hong Kong government to leaye
| those waters by the following day. This
squadron left Hong Kong on the morning
of the 18th, and Mrs bay on the 9th.
Aguinaldo did not leave Singapore until the
26th, and so did not. arrive in Hong Kong
in time to nave q conference with the Ad-
| miral.
ut had been reported to the commodore
as early as March ], by the United States
consul at Manila and others, that the Fill.
pinos had broken out into insurrectlon
against the Spanish authority In the vi
cinty Of Manila, and on March 30, Mr..
Williams had telegraphed; Five thousand
rebels armed in camp near city. Loyal To
us in case of war.
Upon the arrival of the squadron az
Manila II was found that there was no in
surreclon to speak Of. and 1t was ac-
cordingly decided TO allow Agunaldo to
come 10 Cavlte on hoard the McCullocb.
He arrived with thirteen of his staff on
May 10, and Immediately came on noard
the Olympia to call on the commander-in-
chef, aftervwhich he was allowed to land
at Cavite and organize an army. This was
done for the purpose Of strengthening The
United States forces and weakening those
Of the enemy. No alliance of any kind was
entered into with Aguinaldo. nor was any
promise Of independence made to MIN, ,trcn
or al any other time"
The independence Iden.
The commissions report then rapidly
sketches events now historical. 1t tells In
substance how the Filiplnos attacked the
Spanish and how Gen. Anderson arrived
and Aguinaldo at his request, moved from
Cavite to Bacoor. Says the commission:
Now for the frsl time rose the idea
OF national Independence Aguinaldo is
sued a proclamation, In which he took the
responsibility OF promising it TO his people
on DehaH OF the American government al
though he admitted freely in private con-
versatlon with members Of his cabinet
that neither Admiral Dewey nor any other
American had made him any such prom
ise."
The report then states that Aguinaldo
wished 10 attack the Americans when
they landed a Paranque, but was deferred
by lack Of arms and ammunition. From
that point on there was a growing fric-
tion between the Filipinos and the Amer
lean troops.
There were no conferences" says the
report, "between the officers Of the F'ilipl-
nos and our officers with a view to operat-
ing against the Spaniards, nor was there
cooperation OF any kind
There never was any preconcerted OPP
erations OF any combined movement by the
United States and Filplnos against the
Spaniards."
Reference Is made 10 Aguinaldo's de-
mand that he be allowed to loot Manila
and take the arms of the Spauiards This