The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-06
TEXT OF PACT.


Of the commission set these out with a re-
mafkable degree of accuracy, considering
the secrecy which was supposed to over
hang the proceedings.
There is also included all the correspond
ence tnat passed between the French en-
bassy here and the State Department which
led up to the signature of the protocol, but
the interesting feature, namely, the effort
of the Spanish minister of foreign affairs to
withdraw the sovereignty of the Philippines
from question has already been published
unofficially. Included in this correspondence
is a letter from Nj Thiebaut, the French
charge, protesting against the continuance
or the operations OF the insurgents IN the
philippines, which he assumed was with the
knowledge and consent of the American
commanders. and suggesting that the Span
lsh troops captured at Manila be allowed TO
Hght the F1liplnos. To this Mr. Moore re-
piled, on Sept. 5. that. upon investigation, he
had found that most of the statements were
groundless. There was sort of d sugges-
tlon from the first charge to the effect that
the families of the Spanish officers who were
captured at Guam We're suffering.
There is included all of the correspondence
that passed between the Department of State
and the United States consuls at Manila,
Hong-Kong and Singapore relative TO the
philippines. Consul Williams, at Manila,
before the actual outbreak of the war, re-
ported series of most horrible Outrages by
the Spaniards upon the Filipinos. He de-
clares that per cent. of the latter are loyal
to Spain. He complains of being surrounded
by spies everywhere, saying that even in
ms consular office he is not safe from them.
Consul Wildman, at Hong-Kong, on Nov.
3, telegraphed that General Agoncillo was
coming to Washington. He said He has
power to make treaties with foreign gov
ernments. and proposed an offensive and de-
fensiVe alliance with the United States"
Agoncillo asked for arms to aid the re-
Acting Secretary Cridler Dec. 10, replied.
telling Wildman to advise AgOncillo that the
cmted states does not negotiate treaties,
and it is not possible to forward arms. You
should not encourage any tendency on the
part of Agoncillo to communicate with the
department"
A long letter of the date of July IS from
Consul Wildman defends Agoncillo as man
who has been Systematically blaclened.
Says he: According to his own statement,
he has been approached by Spain and Ger
ma many 4EI,,i and has tempting offers from the
April Is Consul Pratt telegraphed from
Singapore: "Aguinaldo gone at my instance
TO Hong-kong to arrange with Dewey to CO.
operate with insurgents at Manila"
June 90 Secretary Day telegraphed Pratt
among other things Avoid any negotia-
tions with Philippine insurgents" Pratt re-
piled that he had no intention of negotiat-
ing, and that Dewey desired Agunaldo to
come. Secretary Day again admonished
Pratt to be cautious to create no impress
sion that might embarrass the government
and lead to misunderstanding in its future
action. July 2 Pratt reported to the depart
ment that the Sultan of the Sulu islands
neXation of his group to British Borneo
which, he said should be watched
All of the statements made by General
Merritt before the American commission at
Paris appear in the documents In sub
stance he said the insurgents would fight
II the attempt was made to surrender Isuzon
to Spain. Spain could not ellbdue the islands
unaided. Asked whether the insurgents were
capable of government he replied that if
would take time they would have to be
educated to it. Senator Frye asked if the
natives would enlist under the American
flag and If Aguinaldo could be given a com
mand. He replied in the affirmative to both
questions Further, he said that Major
Bells report showed that the insurgents
bad had o3S 300 stands OF arms. Aguinaldo had
$WOOOO in bank in Hong-Kong and 1920 GOO in
public funds in Bacolor. Major Bell ex-
pressed the opinion that if the United States
should govern the islands for a year As,uin-
aldo would have no army left
General Greene's estimate is also pro-
duced. He said there were 1900 Spanish
prisoners in the Philippines, includins, 400
officers, with 22,000 arms and 220D0 900
rounds of ammunition. He described Aguin-
aldos character and said much tact would
be required in dealing with AguinaldC In
his opinion that chieftain did not command
the support of large body of Fiiplnos
Then 1t must be remembered that the in
surgents were all Tagalos, only one of the
thirty races in the Philippines At the time
he spoke none of the two million Visayas
people of equal abilities, had taken anv
part: He was asked what chance there
would be Tor native government to which
he replied: "No native government can
maintain itself without the active support
of strong foreign government. 1t is diff
cult to see now any foreign government can
give this protection without taking such an
active part in the management of affairs
as is practically equivalent to it's own
name"
There is vast amount of other matter
included in the papers. extracts from news
papers, long special reports on the mineral
and other resources of the islands histori-
cal treaties, statistical statements of the
values of imports and exports and in fact
they comprise an encyclopedia of the Phil
iDDine islands.