The Anaconda standard., 1899-03-10
STARTED BY RADICALS
Insurgents Regret Beginning the
Hostilities.
ARE SEEKING AN EXCUSE
The Filipino Leaders Are Dumbfounded
and Have No Policy as to the
Future-They Are With
out Influence.

Hong Kong, Feb. 5, via san Francis
co, March e.-In an interview with the
associated press correspondent John
Barrett, late United States minister to
siam, who Is passing through Hong
Kong Ell route home, said:
This collision of forces at Manila is
the most disastrous thing that could
have happened to the Filipino cause of
independence and they themselves, that
Is the leading representatives of Aguin-
aldo here and the so-called junta, real
ize 1T and cannot at the moment under
stand it. They have come to me almost
with tears in their eyes asking for de-
tails of the conflict and seeking legiti-
mate excuse and explanation for the
reported beginning Of the fray by the
natives kilograms have been pouring
In on them from their agents in Amer-
ca and Europe, asking for the Filipino
side of the story, but they are unable
to answer and cannot communicate
with Aguinaldo or the insurgent gov
ernment
only few days ago they assured
me that their leaders would not allow
any attack to be begun upon the Amer
lean forces and would even avoid a
threatening attitude rather than shoul-
der the responsibility of conflict. They
asked me to so inform my friends in
congress to this effect, as well as to
write to Admiral Dewey and General
Otis.
Therefore, when asked the local
leaders to give reasons for the outbreak
they stated with great earnestness
That 1t must have been due Gf begun
oy the natives, which they do not like
to acknowledge to the momentary in
fuence of the war party or most radical
element and that Aguinaldo himself
could not have favored or supported the
action of the Filipino troops The long
continuance of the fighting, they say,
would be accounted for by the masses
OF Filipino soldiers practically being
beyond the control of officers after the
battle had really begun, and being in
splred with the blind hope of driving
the American soldiers into Manila as
they had formerly the Spaniards.
Now that the treaty is ratified right
aftef their reckless opening of hoStili-
ties, the Filipino leaders are almost
dumbfounded and are completely at a
loss as to the future policy. They can
didly admit that the worst blow possi-
Die has been struck a their prospects.
One even confessed to me that the very
best thing they could now do was to
disband, disarm and quietly yield to
American control, trusting that full
justice would eventually be done them
AS he is a man of high standing, I hope
his influence may count with Aguinado
and his followers. The Filipino lead
ers have always been kindly disposed
to me and frank in their discussions,
because / knew them here and in the
Philippines and when they have talked
over matters with me I have Invariably
counseled them to accept American
jurisdiction pending necessary invest
tgation of what would be the best kind
OF government for the islands and to
remain confident that the president and
people of the United States would see
that Justice was done them.
After my address delivered a few
days ago on the Philippine situation,
at the request of the leading men of
Hong Kong, and at which many Fill
pinos were present some of these came
TO me and assured me that they would
accept my advice to keep calm and pa
tiently await results of the Phiipninr
commissioners investigation. Now they
say their influence was powerless to
stay the radical element at Manila and
the restlessness of their army
nave always had much sympathy
for the Filipinos and regarded them as
comparing most fayorably with the
As1atic natives, hoping that with guild
ance and control of our American gov
ernment they would solve at least an
autonomous government that would re-
1leve US of the great responsibilities and
d1f1culties of direct government, and |
am still hopeful that these clouds and
storms may be only temporary and a
happy solution of the great problem
successfully reached"