The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-01
ERA RRICE THREE CENTS.
To this letter replied as follows:
Headquarters Department Of the Pa
ciiic and Kighth Army Corps.
Manila d Ian,,aru q fooo


volutionary forces Malolos, PsI.
deneral--I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt OF your communication
OF today and am much pleased at the act
Ion you have taken. greatly regret that
you have not clear understanding.of .of my
explanation assisted by the conference
have invited viii make them clear to
you. In my Official capacity am mere.
~ the agent OF the United States govern
ment to con 1uot its affairs under the lin
us which Its constitution and laws inn
pose and not to recognize any national or
CIVIL power not already formally recog-
lized by my government, unless especf-
ally authorized to do so by the Instructions
OF the executive Of the United States.
For this reason, WAS unable to receive
oiiiciaily the representatives Of the reyoiu-
make that inability clear to the distir-
guished gentlemen with whom had the
pleasure to converse a few evenings since.
You will bear witness thatimy course
throughout my entire official connection
with affairs here has been consistent and
10 has panied me that have not been
able to receive: and answer communion
ticDs of the cabinet officers OF the govern
ment at Malolos, fearing that might be
erroneously charged with lack Of courtesy.
Permit me now, briefly, General, to
speak Of the serious misunderstanding
and the Representatives Of the United
States governments and which hope that
our commissioners, by q thorough dis
cussion, may be able and yet By the
Vaccinations Of evil disposed persons we
have been infiueneed to thfnk that We
occupy the position ofsadversaries.
The Bilipinos appear to be Of the opin-
ion that We mediate attack, while am
under the strict orders of the President
OF the United states TO avoid conflict in
every way possible. My troops Witness
Ing the earnestness, the comparatively dis
.turbed and unfSiendly attitude of the
evolutionary troops and many of the
citizens Of Manila. conclude that active
hostilities have been determined upon al
though 1t must be clearly within the oom-
prehenston of unprejudiced and rejecting
minds chat the welfare and happiness OF
the Filipino people depend upon the
friendly protection of the United States.
The hand of Spain was forced and she
has acknowledged before the world that
all her claimed rights in this country
have departed by due process of law.
This treaty Acknowledgements, with the
ratification by the Senate of the United
States and the action Of its congress must
also be secured before the executive of
that government can proclaim q definite
policy. That policy must conform TO the
will OF the people OF the United States
d4pfonscQ burOuku Ibs representatives In
Congress. For that action, the Filipino
people should wait at least, before sever
ing the existing friendly relations. am
governed Dy a desire to further the inter
ests of, the Filipino people and shall con-
tinpe to labor with that end in view.
There shall be no conflict Of forces If am
able to avoid it and still shall endeavor
to maintain position to meet all emer-
gencies that may arise.
- Permit me to subscribe myself, General,
with the highest respect,
Your obedient sergeant
(Signed1 e. s. Otis.
Major General o. S. Volunteers, com
manding.
General Otis says the negotiations be-
tween the two commissions reached no
conolusion. The insurgent commissioners
presented as the desire Of the Insurgents
absolute independence under the protec-
tion of the United States, but the nature
and scope of the protection wished for,
they could not explain and the conference
ended in failure. In the latter part 'Jf
January, the Insurgents became aggres-
sive. interfering with the American
troops and finally General Otis wrote
General 'Aguinaldo calling attention to
the arrest by Filipinos of some American
soldiers and newspaper correspondent
and requesting an explanation. General
Otis's letter added: 81 am. doing every
thing possible to preserve the peace and
avoid all friction until the Filipino
people can be made fully acquainted with
the sentiments and intentions of the
American government. when am confi-
deavorsiof the United States and Will
again look upon that country as their
| friend and protector. ka1sb. fully believe
that the present unresttiss the reshlt of
maohinations Of evil disposed persons.
Aguinaldo replied that the men were
hl .r.fs
decree forhidding foreigners to approach
the insurgent lines. He added: 81 must
state that in consideration of the friend
ship Of the Filipino people for the Ameris
| cans. the said soldiers have not been ims
| prisoned, but detained, in accordance
with the spirit of the decree of OctobeA
Goth last. They have been lodged in tho
Goblsrno military and have been issued
| the daily rations of our officers. If they
| have been uncomfortable, 1t is due to the
excessive sobriety OF our race and OF our
soldiers, who are accustomed to eat but
little and to sleep on the hard ground.
| With these explanations believe, Gen.
eral, you will understand the motive Of
the detention of your soldiers today Iibers
ated, and who have been treated with alt
doe consideration. therefore hope that
your determination may be another mo-
| tions with the Great American Republic
and in consideration of this also decree
the liberty of the; correspondent referred
to-"
| General Otis's report explains that tho
Americana were not outside our lines and
says he quotes the correspondence merely
to show the efforts of the american aus
thorities to maintain peace. He next tell
how the American soldiers were openlS
l lsulted and how the insurgents had con
| tinuously labored to strengthen theil
lines, threatening to drive the Americana
out Of the island and how, finally, on tht
night of February 4th, the deinonstratioI
| was made which resulted in the killin(
of Filipino by an American sentry AMI
the firing on the Americans by the insur
gent troops. General Otis says: 9Th
insargent army had thus succeeded Il
drawing the lire Of a small outpost which
they had evidently labored with all theiI
ingenuity to accomplish in order to justi
fly in some way their premeditated at
tack. 1t is not believed that the chief in
surgent leaders wished to open hostilities
at this time, as they wsre not completely
| prepared to assume the initiative. Thes
ACa txxJr,