Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-08-08
AGUINALDO ARGUES
He Makes An Appeal to the Powers
for Recognition of the
Filipinos.
SAYS THEY WHIPPED SPAIN
Aud That Country Had No Right to Sell
the Islands Asks to Have Influence
Exerted Upon the American
Government

Manila, August 8.-Aguinaldo has ap.
Filipino and independence in doc.
ument dated from Tarlac, July q. II
has been received by all foreign consuls
at Manila, with request that they for.
ward it to their respective governments
The Filipinos use the old argument
| that they had conquered the sovereign
| ty of these islands from Spain before
the signing of the treaty at Paris, and
cede them to the United States. They
argue that the possession of 1000 Span
ish prisoners captured with their arms
fighting against Filipinos is eloquent
proof of the nullity of Spanish sover-
eighty, as when they surrendered
Span's hold was irrevocably lost.
The document then says: Replying
to Spanish commissioners to request
the release of prisoners because Spain
no longer has political interests in the
Islands, we asked for a treaty of peace
md friendship between Spain and the
Filipinos, whereby prisoners could be
released, but the commissioners refused
because it would mean recognition of
our independence. This was equivalent
co saying that the prisoners must stay
IN our hands Indefinitely because their
possession was our most efficacious
method to adjust our account with
Spain and obtain from her recognition
Of independence"
The Filipinos claim that they con-
quered all the country except Manila,
and they co-operated in securing the
latters capitulation by surrounding it
at the cost of thousands of lives. They
also claim that they conquered the
country unassisted, except for sixty
guns Admiral Dewey gave Aguinaldo,
and that Admiral Dewey and the Brit
sh and Belgian consuls recognized the
Filipino sovereignty by asking for
passes to visit the country.
They claim they have letters from
American consuls and generals recog-
nizing their sovereignty and promising
that Americans would recognize their
independence, which was at the dispo-
stion of the powers.
The Filipinos attempt to make capital
Of the statement that Admiral Dewey
had such confidence that Aguinaldo
would observe and fulfill the rules of
war that he gave him 100 Spanish pris-
oners, which the American navy had
captured. Finally the Filpinos appeal
to the powers to influence Washington
to bring to termination the unjust
war which is devastating the country"
STATE DEPARTMENT NOT IN
FORMED.
Washington, August S.-The state de-
partment is entirely without informa-
ton as to the address by Aguinaldo to
foreign powers for recognition of the
Flipinos, either as belligerents or con-
stituting an Independent government.
The appeal is looked upon, however, as
creating no particular change, as it has
been the desire of Aguinaldo and his as
sociates from the first to secure such
recognition. The appeal puts this de-
sire into rather formal shape, and may
bring to an issue the position Of outside
governments. There is no idea here
that any foreign government will heed
the address. International usage as to
recognition was quite fully developed
during the Cuban insurrection, at which
time the question was exhaustively dis
cussed in congress and was the subject
Of lengthy consideration in messages Of
the president. The general view at that
time was that recognition Of belligeren-
cy was not in itself a casus belli. Up to
the present time there has been no inti-
nation to the state department that
any foreign power entertained even the
remotest idea of giving recognition to
Aguinaldo and his associates.