Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-16
THE war IS MOST DISASTROUS
Worst Thing for the Cause of
the Filipinos.
vIEWSOF MINISTER JOHN BARRETT
Leaders at Hongkong Unable
to Explain.


Hongkong, China, Feb. 8, via San
Francisco, CAL, March 9.--In an inter-
view with the Associated Press corre-
spondent, John Barrett, late United
States Minister to Siam, who is passing
through Hongkong en- route home, said:
"This collision of forces at Manila is
the most disastrous thing that could
have happened to the Filipino cause
for Independence and they themselves,
that is, the leading representatives of
Aguinaldo here and the so-called Junta
realize it, and cannot at the moment
understand it. They have come to me
almost with tears in their eyes, asking
for details of the conflict and seeking
some legitimate explanation and excuse
for the reported beginning of the fray
by the natives. kilograms have been
pouring in on them from their agents
in America and Europe asking for the
Filipino side cf the story, but they
are unable TO answer and cannot com
municate with Aguinaldo or the insur-
gent government. Only few days ago
they assured me that their leaders
would not allow any attack to be begun
upon the American forces and would
even avoid threatening attitude rather
than shoulder a responsibility of con-
fliet. They asked me to inform my
friends in Congress to this. effect, as
well as write to Admiral Dewey and
Gen. Otis. Therefore, when | asked
the local leaders to give reasons for the
outbreak, they stated with great
earnestness that it must not have been
due (if begun by the natives, which
they do not like to Acknowledged to the
momentary influence of the war party
or most radical element, and that
Aguinaldo himself could not have fay-
ored or supported the action of the
Filipino troops. The long continuance
of the fighting, they say, would be &C.
counted for by the masses of Filipino
soldiers practically being beyond all
control of officers after the battle had
really begun, and being inspired with
the blind hope of driving the American
soldiers into Manila, as they had
formerly the Spaniards.
Now that the treaty is ratified right
after their reckless opening of hostili-
ties, the Filipino leaders are almost
dumfounded and are completely at q
loss as to the future policy. They
candidly admit that the worst blow
possible has been struck at their pros
poets. One even confessed to me thai
Fue very DeSb IuluS tlhb bley COulu III
now was to disband, disarm and quietl,
yield to American control, trusting tina
full Justice would eventually.be don,
them.
1.-THE Filipino leaders have Away
been kindly disposed to me and franl
in their discussions, because / knev
them here and in the Philippines, AMI
when they have talked matters owe
with me / have invariably counsele,
them to accept American jurisdiction
pending necessary investigation 0
what would be the best kind of govern
ment for the island, and to remain con
fident that the President and people q
the United States would see that iustic
was done them.
After my address, delivered a fel
days ago, upon the Filipino situatio
at the request of the leading men c
Hongkong, and at which many Fill
pinos were present, some of these cam
to me and assured me that they woul
accept my advice to keep calm an
patiently await the results of the Philir
pine Commissioners investigation
Now they say their influence wa
powerless to stay the radical elemer
at Manila and the restlessness of the
army