The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-28
AGONClLLO Fl MARRIOTT
AGUINALDo'S ENVOY WORRYING
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS.
He Is Alleged to Have sent Dispatches
to Manila Urging Prompt At
tack ON Americans.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-Felipe Agoncillo,
who would like to be recognized here as
minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraor-
binary of the Philippine republic, is caus-
ing the officials of the State Department
considerable worry. 1t is reported that when
Agoncillo learned that the Senate had set
day for voting on the ratification of the
peace treaty, he prepared a dispatch to the
Filipino Junto at Hong Kong conveying the
news. He is also reported TO have added
the suggestion that if Aguinaldo was to
forcibly contest American control he should
strike the blow at once, as with the treaty
ratified and further reinforcements the
Americans would be in a better position TO
maintain order. The dispatch. it IS also
said, was intercepted and brought to the
attention of the President and Secretaries
Alger and Long.
When Agoncillo was asked as to the truth
Of the foregoing reports he said: The state
ment is absolutely false, and is calculated
to excite feeling and animosity in this coun-
try and to prejudice the Filipino cause. No
such telegram has ever been sent by me,
and for that reason no such telegram could
have been intercepted. The falsity of the
statement is shown by the fact that 1 have
cabed my government to continue the same
friendship which was borne on the battle
field against Spain. The Philippine people
have no wish and no purpose to fight
| against the Americans unless they are
driven to it. Their only desire is to
| strengthen the bonds now existing"
Other members of the PHILIPPINE Junto
who were present when Agoncillo made his
statement concurred in what he said and
| emphasized the latter's declarations that all
| his adUineG had happ tOvtar3 a n avoidance
of a rupture In other quarters 1t was
| stated that Agoncillo had sent dispatches
from time to time, three rather long ones
going within the last few days. According
to the Filipinos nothing that had been sent
| advised fighting. but everything has cOun-
seled continued friendship. Under such cir
| cumstances the members of the Junto as
| sert that an discriminating dispatch which
| has come into the hands of the government
is q forgery if it ascribes to Agoncillo any
advice to Aguinaldo to begin fighting Be
| You'd denying this report AgoncillO said he
| had nothing to make public as to COM
munlcat1ons to or from Aguinaldo. He ex-
pressed the positive opinion, however, that
| the cable report that the Filipino Congress
| had authorized a declaration of war was
not correct. as he says the Filipino people
| do not want q conflict with the Americans,
and will do everything possible to avoid it.
| The officials of the State Department are
mute respecting the treatment to be ac-
| corded Agoncilo although it is known that
| he has been held under surveillance ever
| since his arrival in this city, and that it
| was learned that he was in correspondence
| over the cables with his chief. generally
| through some one at the Philippine Juntos
| III Hong-kong, London or Paris, but
| whether any telegram has been actually in
| tercepted cannot be learned. There was
| good ground also for the belief that Agon-
| clio was receiving advices from certain
persons inimical to the policy the President
| has adopted for the treatment of the Philip
pine question at this stage This has been
tolerated reluctantly by the administration,
rather than to make an open issue of what
is still case possible Of adjustment.
The publication two days ago of what
| proved to be a very good abstract with
exact quotations of the letter left the day
preceding the publication by Agoncillo'S
secretary at the State Department, likewise
was resented as q notable breach of official
decorum. The first inclination of the Off
Gals, after this publication, was to get rid
of Agoncillo but officials We're loath to take
any action in advance of the Senate passing
on the pending peace treaty. especially as
action might involve passage upon certain
| legal and diplomatic points involved as to
which 1t is desired not to establish a prece-
detn at this time. Administration officials
believe the general tenor of the advces
| Agoncillo has sent his principals has been
III line of admonition to hold off from the
acceptance Of any terms from General Otis
IN view of the prospect that the peace
treaty might fail in the United States SEN
ate.
The situation at Manila is regarded as
critical of course, but the officials see no
reason why they cannot command it for a
| time at least. General Otis reported yes
terday in connection with some matters
connected with the shipment home of some
sick Spanish soldiers, that he could hold
out beyond doubt until his achievements
arrived. and added that as the news had
| reached Manila that there was every pros
pect that the peace treaty will be soon
ratified by the United States Senate the
effect upon the native element had been
salutary. General Otis was given permits
sion to load some of these sick Spanish SOL
diers upon two Spanish steamers now at
Manila, or just due. leaving the terms to
be paid to be settled upon the basis of the
contract price to be paid by the War De-
nartment to the steamship lire that secures
the contract next week for the transporta-
ton home of all the Spanish soldiers in the
Philippines