The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-05-02
TT PROVES FRUITLESS
The Conference Between Otis and
the Filipino Commission
Did No Good.
THE REBELSWANTTIME
Full Amnesty Was Promised on Sur
render-Have Evidently Had
Enough of War.

Manila, April 20, 3 D. m. The cou.
ference today between General Otis and
Col. Manuel Arguelezes aud Lieut.,
Jose Bornal, who came from General
Luna under flag Of truce yesterday to
ask for u cessation of hostilities, was
fruitless.
1t is understood the Filipino commits.
sioners were given terms upon which
the Americans will consent to negotiate.
The Filipinos admit they have been
defeated and it is expected will return
with fresh propositions from General
Luna.
Manila, April 30, $40 p. m.-The
envoys from General Luna were hospit-
ably treated by General Otis, who pro.
vided them with house aud with u
guard and permitted them to visit their
friends here.
The conference at the palace this
morning lasted three hours. Mr.. Schur.
man, United States Philippine commits.
sioner, attended and Admiral Dewey
dropped in for All hour. The discus.
sion was mostly between Otis and
Arguelezes, who had been selected for
the mission by Luna because he had
known General Otis.
Schurman emerged from the palace
between the two shock. haired. half
savage looking emissaries and the three
drove to the Office Of the United States
Philippine commission, where they
talked informally for about al hour.
Arguelezes, who is q lawyer, aptly
illustrated Malay subtlety, while he
declared with apparent frankness that
the Filipino leaders want II chance to
give up the struggle gracefully through
their congress, instead of surrendering
ignominicusly. He asked fortnight g
armistice SO that congress might be
summoned May /. He endeavored to
commit the Americans to greater con.
cessions and wanted the terms guaran.
teed by the treaty.
He was told that recognition of the
Filipino government was impossible
and that written guarantee Of AM.
nestsy for all insurgents was the ut.
most that could be given.
Arguelezes argued that Spain had
given similar guarantees and broken
them and he laid much stress on the
Spaniard's honor. He persistently de.
clared that the Filipinos must be per.
mitted to retire with honor.
In conversation with Schurman Col.
onel Arguelezes revived the question Of
independence and was referred to the
statement in the commissioners proc.
lamation that the Filipinos would be-
given an increasing measure of self.gov.
ernment as soon as they proved them.
selves worthy Of it.
Mr.. Schurman warned Arguelezes
the longer the war was waged and the
more killed the stronger would be the
animosities hindering amicable cooper
alton between the two peoples for the
prosperity Of the islands.
The insurgents have an insurrection
OH their own hands. The Maooabees,
traditional foes Of the Tagalos, are ris.
ing in the north, while burden Of the
thousands Of hungry and discontented
who fled before the American army and
who are camping behind the Filipino
lines mulitplies the trouble of the Fill.
pino government, headquarters of
which are now ut San Iaidor, having
been removed northward when Calum.
pit fell.
Arguelezes and Lieutenant Bernul
say the storming Of Calumpit dismayed
their troops. The Filipinos had made
successful stand there against the
Spanish in 1896 and thought it could
not be taken. They state also that
Aguinaldo is at San Isidor. The rebels
are gathering at San Fernando. Some
are in open mutiny aud all are looting.
Thousands Of non com batants are re-.
turning to their homes within the
American lines.
Washington. April 29.-The follow.
ing dispatch was received this morning
from General Otis:
Manila. April 80. 9.-Conference with
insurgent representatives terminated
this morning. Their request was for
cessation of hostilities for three weeks
to enable them to call their congress to
decide whether to continue the prosecu.
tion of the war or propose terms OF
peace. The proposition was declined
aud full amnesty promised on su1ren.
der. It is believed the insurgents are
tired Of war. but seek to secure terms
Of peace through what they denominate
their representative congress.
(Signed) Otis.
New York. April 99.-A dispatch to
the Herald from Manila says: In an
interview with General Otis at the for.