The age-herald., 1899-01-25
COMMUNICATION
 FROM AGONCILLO lnquir4S the United States Intention Re-
 gardinS the Philippines. ASKS IMMEDIATE ANSWER ReCiteS the Circumstances Which Have Aroused FilipinOS' Suspicion. DISPATCH OF SHIPS AND TROOPS Has Caused the Natives to Believe That America Intends to Make War
 Upon the New Republic of
 the East.
OF SHIPS AND TROOPS

cation to the secretary of state today Senor Felipe Agoncilo calls attention to the fact that on January Il he addressed letter to him upon the question of recognition, for wardng with it a memorandum demon- precedents the Philippine republic was en- titled to recognition, and in the same letter invited the attention of the secretary to the present strained conditions at Mania where over-zeal on either side might create a con- dition resulting in grievous loss of life, and urging the necessity of an early and frank communication between the representatives of the two countries. He further calls at tenton to the fact that since his letter was written the very circumstances he feared have brought the two countries to the edge of war, and says that the language used by him was so prophetic that subsequent facts have amply justified its employment.
 Demand Alevia,ion
 He now desires to call the attention of the secretary to certain conditions which, in his opinion, require immediate aleviation. There are, he says, at the present time 2O,- VOO American troops at Manila controlling a population of about 30O0 000. "A number of war vessels are stationed in the harbor, and many other American men of war and transports are to be found within the archi- peago, although the actual possession >of the American troops extends oyer not to eX- ceed 143 square miles out of more than 2OO,- OOO."
 Despite the enormous forces now in this extremely circumscribed area i've are in- formed through the public prints that other vessels or war have been ordered from dis tant parts of the globe to reinforce those now among the islands in question, while a lew days ago transport sailed from New York city carrying about 2000 soldiers and having Manila as it's destination, and as we are further informed regiments of troops are under orders to proceed by way or San Francisco to the Philippines. The public prints inform us als othat an attack is contemplated upon the Philippines; the islands to be taken in detail, the smaller ones first and the larger islands to be bloekaded that they may not aid those first attacked"
 The National Impression
 He says it is naturally the impression of his government and people that those war like preparations indicate existing or m- mediate military operations in the orient and they readily conceive that it must be contemplated that such operations are to be levelled at the existing government of the Philippine islands.
 As the representative of the Philippine government, he continues: q hesitate to give adhesion to this idea, for cannot be- lieve that there Is any present or future difficulty between the American and Philip pine government justifying warlike acts, and as believer in the humanity of the American people, refuse to acquiesce in the idea that America designs war upon the Philippine islands"
 He points out the fact that but lately the United States and the Philippine govern ment have been associated in a conflict against common enemy, the United States accomplishing its purpose by the expulsion of Spain from the West Indies, while the desire of the Philippine republic has been practically attained by the almost complete expulsion of the Spanish government from the Philippine isands; the Philippine gov- ernment now holding as prisoners of war between nine and ten thousand Spanish soldiers, and the Spanish possessing only a few small garrisonS in isolated points of minor importance.
 Turned Against Filipinos
 He is therefore unable to conceive of any reason why the armies and navies of the United States lately employed against a common enemy would be turned against Americas recent associate.
 The United States, he says, has no active enemy in the orient, having proclaimed an armistice with Spain. It is true, he con- tinues, that Spain has undertaken to convey to the United States its alleged claim against the Philippines, claim which Spain was not capable of enforcing and which never found its origin in the consent of the people of those isands. He inquires: Are my government and people to be left to suppose that it is because of some desire on the part of the American government fo ipct fG af exploded claim that the United States is massing it's forces at the late capital of the Philippine islands?
 He points out that the Philippine islands are in a state of order, possessing gov ernment satisfactory to their inhabitants and without an enemy within their borders offering any resistance to its operations and are at peace with all the world.
 He is sure the secretary of state will ap- preciate, in view of the circumstances de- tailed, the quieting. reassuring effect upon the minds of his countrymen to result from a disclaimer upon the part of the American government of any intentio to attack their liberties and independence.
 Their Liberties in Danger
 Continuing, he says that notwithstanding the difficulty he labors under in not having been formally received, he finds it his m- perative duty to call the attention of the secretary to the disturbing facts enumera- ted to the end that he may receive such as- surances as will satisfy his government that it is not the intention of America to make war upon the new republic of Asia and will explain to 1t the reason why large armies and navies should be dispatched to the Philippine islands, and which will relieve his countrymen of the fear that now pos sesses them, that their liberties a2 in danger at the hands of republic whose name they have always believed was as- sociated with freedom and to which they first came for recognition.
 He expresses his gratitude to America for services rendered. and hopes that friendly relations may continue, and urges the im- pOrtanca of a n immediate apswar