The record-union., 1899-08-05

Spain.
In this sharp letter the Consul is
finally for the third time warned
against any expression looking to rec
ognition of any political claims by
Aguinaldo and against any word or act
that could be construed as a pledge
which he, the Consul General, has no.
power to make.
Mr.. Pratt replied by cable that any
story that he had made pledges or
promises was untrue; that he left all
to Dewey" and simply induced Agui-
naldo to go to him at Hongkong. This
was under date of June Goth. The
next day he reported fully why he ar
ranged for Aguinaldo to meet Dewey,
namely to- prevent him returning to the
islands on his own account and organ,
izing an independent undertaking that
would have seriously INSTRUCTED Amer
lean operations.
June 10Th the State Department re-
piled that it was pleased to learn that
no pledges had been given to Agui-
naldo.
July 10th Secretary of State Day
wrote to Pratt concerning a public adj
dress he had delivered at a serenade
and address presentation to him by
Filipino refugees in Singapore, saying
that the newspaper report left doubt
whether he had not said things on that
occasion, producing an impression that
the United States Government would
regret, as the report disclosed words
that the Filipinos might understand as
pledging the United States to recognize
their independence under American
protection. He is told that if anything
he said was subject to such construc-
ton, he has gone beyond bounds, and 1t
is repudiated.
Mr.. Pratt replied that he had abso-
lutely refused to discuss any political
questions or anything about the desire
for independence, or future policy OF
the United States towards the Philip
pines, or the furtherance of any plan
Of Aguinaldo's. and that he had held out
no hopes to Aguinaldo.
June 10th, 1885, Aguinaldo addressed
a long letter to President Mckinley
begging that the United States would
not return the Philippines to Spain, but
hold them in order to permit the Fill.
pinos to become an Independent state
In this long appeal there is not a word
about any promise or pledge having
been made to him by Pratt, Wildman,
Commodore Dewey or any other per-
son.
1t is simply incredible that if any
such promises or pledges had been
made, Aguinaldo would have omitted
reference to them in this prayerful APP
peal To have not presented such
pledges in such a paper would have
been assihine and have convicted Agui-
naldo of being a bungler and a fool
The negative force of this remarkable
appeal is positive REPUTATION of Bray's
charge concluding the Valentine mono.
graph, that the United States through
Pratt and Dewey pledged the indepen-
dence of the Filipinos.
A very remarkable circumstance is
that Bray, translated Aguinaldo's let
ter to President Mckinley, and accom-
panied it by letter of transmittal, at
request of Aguinaldo. as he himself
says page $3.50. and therefore Bray
knew it's contents and that there was
non-reference to any promise or pledge
Report of Major Bell of the engineers
to General Merritt August, 1898. on
conditions in the Philippine Islands OF
the land and it's people, with reason
for adhering to the opinion that the
natives are unfit for Independent gov
eminent, outside of a few leaders who
have had exceptional opportunities.
Report of General Green to the same
effect, August p, 1895 Report of
Major Bourns, who after long observa.
ton and study confirms the opinion
of General Green, and gives his rea-
sons in extenso.
Report of Judge Advocate c. L. Jew,
EFT, especially commissioned to take
testimony, observe, study and report,
that he finds the Filipinos not fitted
for local self-government as we under,
stand it; that the insurrectionary gov
eminent could not sustain itself even
on the island of Luzon. He sets forth
in detail the proofs leading him to such
conclusion, and further that an Amer
lean territorial form of government
such as we have prior to admission Of
a State would be inapplicable to the \
islands.
Letters by General Anderson to Agui-
naldo in July, 1898, informing him that
troops have been sent to the Philip,
pines to defeat the Spanish and estab-
lish a government for the whole peo-
pie, and that we will do so. Aguinaldo's
replies make no reference whatever to
any pledge by Admiral Dewey or any
other person to him or any other party
concerning Filipino independence In
one letter, July "a, 1898 (page 394). he
says that mo formal agreement yet ex-
lists between the two nations" and
II came from Hongkong to prevent my
countrymen from making common cause
with the, Spanish against Americans
pledging before my word to Admiral
Dewey not to give place Ito allow to
any internal discord, because being a
judge Of their desires. I had the, strong
conviction that I would succeed in both
objects, establishing a Government ac-
cording to their DESIRES"
If there ever was a time when Agui-
naldo should have thrown a pledge of
independence in our faces, it was when
he wrote that letter. But no such
pledge was ever made.
August 1, 1898, in long letter to
Consul Williams whom he addresses as
a close and dear friend, he makes no
mention of any pledge or promise. He
refers to Consul Williams picture of
peace and prosperity for the islands
under American rule and how fascinat-
ing it is and adds. THAT is not saying
that I am not of your opinion" indeed.
he says II believe the same" But he
holds that his people want an indepen-
dent government and if he favored
American rule he would be denounced
as traitor.
These extracts and references are
sufficient to establish that no promises
or pledges were given to Aguinaldo OF
independence and recognition. The
charge in the Valentine circular that
there were such promises, rest solely
upon the statement Of H w. Bray; not