The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-06
Record of Negotiations Between
Americans and Insurgents.
LETTERS FROM C0NsULS
CAUTIONED BY DAY TO AVOID
MISUNDERSTANDING
Dewey Arranged For Aguinaldo's Co
Peration-leleIa al Merritt's Test
mony Before the Peace Commis-
sion-Insurgent Comprise Small
Part of the Population.


Washington, Jan. accompanying
the copy of the treaty of peace trans
united to the senate, there is a great
mass of documents, including all of
The correspondents, that passed be-
tween the department of state and the
United States consuls at Manila, Hong
kong, and Singapore, relative to the
Philippines. Consul Williams, at Ma
Mia, before the actual outbreak of war,
reported a series Of most horrible out
RACES by the Spaniards upon The Fill
pinos He declared that D per cent of
the latter are loyal to Spain. He COM
plains OF being surrounded by spies
everywhere, saying that even in his
consular office he is not safe from
them.
Consul Wildman at Hongkong, on
Nov. 3, telegraphed that General Agon-
clio was coming to Washington He
said: He has power to make treaties
with foreign governments, and has
proposed an offensive and defensive
alliance with the United States"
Agoncillo asked for arms to aid the
rebellion.
Acting Secretary Cridler, on Dec. 10.
replied telling Wildman to advise
Agencillo that the United States does
not negotiate treaties, and it is not
not encourage any tendency on the
part of Agoncillo to communicate with
the department"
a long letter, dated July Is, from
Consul Wildman, defends Aguinaldo as
a man who has been Systematically
blackened. Says he: According to his
own statements he has been ap-
preached by Spain and Germany, and
has tempting offers from the Catholic
church.
April 2S Consul Pratt telegraphed
from Singapore: tAguinaldo has gone
my instance Hongkong arrange with
Dewey cooperation insurgents Ma
Mia
June 20, Secretary Day telegraphed
Pratt, among other things: avoid
any negotiations with Philippine insur-
gents. Pratt replied that he had no
intention of negotiating. Says he:
Left that to Dewey, who desires
Aguinaldo TO come" Secretary Day
again admonished Pratt to be cautious
TO create no impression that might en-
barrass the government and lead to
misunderstanding en- its future action.
July ,, Pratt reported to the depart
ment that the sultan Of the Sulu is
lands was negotiating at Singapore for
the annexation of his group to British
Borneo, which, he said, should be
watched.
MERRITTS TESTIMONY.
All of the statements made by Cen
eral Merritt before the American COM
mission at Paris appear in the docu-
ments. In substance he said the in
surgents would fight if the attempt was
made to surrender Luzon to Spain
Spain could not control the islands I'M
aided. Asked whether the insurgents
were capable of government, he re-
Piled that it would take time; they
would have to be educated up TO it.
Senator Frye asked if the natives
would enlist under the American flag
and if Aguinaldo could be given a
command. He replied in the affirma-
tive to both questions. Further, he
, said that Major Bells report showed
that the insurgents had 49, 400 stands
of arms. Aguinaldo had 100000 in
bank in Hongkong and 1920 900 in public
funds in -Bacoor. Major Bell ex-
pressed the opinion that if the United
States should govern the islands for a
year, Aguinaldo would have no armY
left.
General Greene's estimate is also re-
produced He said there were $4,000
Spanish prisoners in the Philippines.
including 400 officers. with -, 600 arms
and 22.0900 0G rounds of ammunition He
described Aguinaldo's character and
said much tact would be required in
dealing with him. In his opinion. that
chieftain did not command the support
of a large body of FiliDinos. Then it
must he remembered that the insur-
gents were all Tagalos. only one of
thirty races in the Philippines At the
time he SPOKE. none of the two million
Nisayas. people of equal abilities. had
taken any part. He was asked what
chance there would be for native gov
eminent. to which he replied:
The native government can main
tain itself without the active support
of a strong foreign government 1t is
difficult to see how any foreign govern
ment can give this protection without
taking such an active part in the man
agement of affairs as is practically
equivalent TO its own name"