Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-03
PHILIPPINE REPORT,
Compact Summary Of Conditions
from the Commission
DEWEY AND AGU|NALDO,
Explanation by Former Of Relations
Between The Two.
NO PROMISE OF INDEPENDENCE.
No Intimation of Such Thing nj
Any Time-The War Unavoidable
NO PROMISE OF INDEPENDENCE

cordance with the understanding reached
at the conference at the White House
Yesterday the Philippine Commission to-
day submitted to the President the pre-
liminary report which it had promised
to prepare.
The report appears 10 be compact
summary OF the conditions on the islands
as the commission left them; Of the his
torical events which preceded the Span
! ish war and led to the original Filipino
instruction: of the exchanges between
Admiral Dewey and the other American
commanders and the insurgents, and Of
the breaking out and progress Of the
present Filipino instruction. and, finally,
a statement of the capacity Of the Fiji
pinos for self-government.
A notable feature Of the report is a
memorandum by Admiral Dewey explain
atory Of his relations with Agunaldo
The commission tells briefly how IT con-
I Quoted the task entrusted TO it, hearing
statements from all classes Of people in
Manila as to the capabilities OF the Fill
pinos for self-government. the habits and
! customs Of the people, and also the estab-
Iishment Of municipal governments in
many towns. All this matter Is to be in
cIuded in the final report.
HISTORY OF THE ISLANDS.
Turning to the history OF the Islands,
the commission attaches little importance
to the divers rebellions which had pre-
coded that of 1886. As 10 this movement
they declare that It was in no sense an
attempt to win independence. but was
solely to obtain relief from intolerable
abuses. To sustain this statement they
quote from an insurgent proclamation Is
sued at the time. The report then tells
Of the insurrection which ended by
spain's buying off Aguinaldo and his fol-
lowers.
The war begun in 1895 was terminated
by the treaty Of Biac-Na-Bate. The pro-
visions Of this treaty were never carried
| out Spanish abuses began afresh. In Ma
Mia alone more than 200 men being exc
cuted. Hence. sporadic risings occurred,
though they possessed nothing like the
strength Of the original movement.
The report then tells how General Au-
gustin came 10 Manila az Governor-Gen-
eral at this iuncture. and war broke out
between Spain and the United States. Au-
gustin sought TO secure the support Of the
Filipinos TO defend Spain against Amer
lea promising them autonomy. but the
Filipinos did not trust him. Then came
the LIST Of May and the destruction Of the
Spanish fleet by Dewey, with the result
ing loss Of prestige to Spain. Then in
June Aguinaldo came. On this point the
| commission says:
DEWEY-AGU1NALDO DEALINGS.
1.-THE following memorandum on the
subject has been furnished the commits
sion by Admiral Dewey:
Memorandum Of negotiations with
Aguinaldo:
ION April a. 1898 the following CIPHER
dispatch was received AT Hongkong from
Mr.. Il. Spencer Pratt. United States Con-
l-General at Singapore: 'Aguinaldo, in
surgent leader. here. win come Hong
kong, arrange with commodore for gene
raj COOPERATION insurgents Manila If de-
sired Telegraph. PRATT
"On the same day Commodore Dewey
telegraphed Mr.. Pratt: Tell Aguinaldo
come soon as possible the necessity for
haste being due 10 the fact that the
squadron had been notified by the Hong
kong Government 10 leave those waters
by the following day. The squadron left
and Mrs Bay on the 9TH. Aguinaldo did
not leave Singapore until the 18th, and so
did not arrive at HongkOng in time to
have a conference with the Admiral
1T had been reported 10 the COmmo-
dore as early as March 1st by the United
States Consul at Manila and others that
the Filipinos had broken out into insur-
rection against the Spanish authority in
the vicinity of Manila, and on March 5Oth
Mr.. Williams had telegraphed: Five thou-
sand rebels armed In camp near city.
Loyal to us in case of war
"Trnon the arrival Of the squadron at
Manila it was found that there was no
Instruction to speak Of. and II was ac-
cordingly decided TO allow Aguinaldo 10
come to Cavite on board the McCulloch.
He arrived, with thirteen Of his STAFF, on
MAY 18th. and Immediately came on board
the Olympia 10 call on the commander
in-chief. after which he was allowed TO
land at Cavite and organize an army.
This was done for the purpose Of
strengthening the United States forces
and weakening those Of the enemy NO
alliance of any kind was entered into
with Aguinaldo nor was any promise OF
INDEPENDENCE made TO him then or at any
other time"
IlKSI Idea VI i.Ni'A<A A%.Ni
The commissions report then rapidly
sketches events now historical. II tells
in substance how the FHipinos attacked
the Spanish and how General Anderson
arrived. and Agginaldo, at his request,
moved from Cavite TO Bacoor. says the
commission:
Now for the first time arose the ldea
Of national independence. Aguinaldo
issued a proclamation. In which he TOOK
the responsibility of promising 1t TO his
people. on behalf Of the American Gov
eminent. although he admitted freely In
private conversation with members OF his
Cabinet that neither Admiral Dewey
nor any other American had made him
any such promise
The report then states that Aguinaldo
wished 10 attack the Americans when
they landed az Paranaque, but was deter
red bv lack of arms and ammunition
From that point on there was growing
friction between the Filipinos and the
American troops
There were no conferences" says the
report, between the officers OF the Fill
pinos and our officers. with view 10
operating against the Spaniards, nor was
there cooperation of any kind. j.
There never was any preconcerted
operation or any combined movement W