The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-05-05
No ARM|S1CE IS GRANTED
CONFERENCE WITH FILIPINOS so
FAR FRUITLESS.
AMNESTY ONLY WILL Be GIVEN.
General Otis Informs the Envoys That
Filipino Governnent VIII Not
he Recognized.

A second conference was held Satur-
day at Manila between General Otis
and Colonel Manuel Arguelesses and
Lieutenant Jose Bernal, who came
from General Luna under n flag of
truce Friday to ask for cessation of
hOstilities. The meeting was fruitless.
1t is understood that the Filipino com
missioners were given terms upon
which the Americans viii consent to
negotiate.
The Filipinos admit ~ they have
been defeated, and it is expected that
they will return with fresh proposals
from General Luna.
The ENJOYS from General Luna
were Hospitality treated by General
Otis, who provided them with house
and with a guard and permitted them
to visit their friends. Returning to
the palace Saturday morning the ENJOYS
saw an illustration of American re-
sources. A long train of waSns and
pack mules was just, stHrting with pro-
visions for General Lawton, who has
reached Marunco.
The conference at the palace lasted
three hours, Jacob @. Schurman, of
the United States Philippine commits
sion, attending and Admiral Dewey
dropping in for an hour.
The discussion was mostly between
General Otis and Colonel Argueleses,
who had been selected for the mission
by General Luna because he had
known General Otis.
Colonel Argueleses had served on
the Filipino commission which met
the American authorities before the
war i'll an endeavor to smooth over
the impending troubles. Mr.. Schur-
man emerged from the palace between
the two shock-haired, savage-looking
natives and drove unattended to the
office of the United States Philippine
commission, where they talked infor-
mally for about an hour.
Manila is divided between two opin-
ions-the majority believing that the
Filipinos desire peace, while others
think they are sparring for time in
which to rehabilitate their demoralized
army.
The latter opinion gained color
fio.r1~ ss-- t6ct that,> roe &forSements
have been sent to the s0uSh, opposite
the American lines.
Colonel Argueleses, who is a lawyer,
splendidly illustrated the Malay sub
tlety at words. While he declared
with apparent frankness that the Fill
pino leader wanted chance to give
up the struggle gracefully. through
the congress, instead of snrrendering
ignominiously, he asked for fort
nights armistice SO that the congress
might be summoned on May 1st, and
endeavored to commit the Americans
to greater concessions and wanted
terms guaranteed by treaty.
He was told that recognition of the
Filipino government was impossible,
and he was given to understand that
a written guarantee of .amn esty for all
insurgents was the utmost that could
be given.
Otis VIII he Cautious.
A Manila dispatch of Sunday states
while it is generally expected among
Americans that the Filipino emissaries
will return with revised proposals
from General Antonio Luna, General
Otis is not letting this prospect inter-
fere with his preparations for pushing
the war. He has ordered Major Gen
erol Lawton to retf>fn to Angat, a few
miles northwest of Norzogaray, and
not to advance aggressively while the
negotiations are pending
General Macarthur is apparently
acting on the same policy, but he is
repairing the bridges and strengthen
ing the lines Of his force, which is
stretched out with a four-mile front,
and within q quarter of mile OF the
enemy.
The possibilities of peace are graft
flying to great majority of the army
who have regarded the war MS an un-
pleasant duty that must be performed
fo Amarjcon Traditions