The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-28
AGONCILLO
MAKES DENIAL.
Has Sent no InfIammatory Dis
patches to FiIiplnos.
HIS PEOPLE DO NOT WANT WAR
viii Not Fight Against Americans Unless
They Are Forced 10 DO So.
AGUINALDOS AGENT BEING WATCHED
Known 10 Be In Communication With tha Rebel
Leader Through One or the Other Of
The Philippine JuniaS Abroad.

Washington, Jan. 2S.--Agoncillo, the
representative of Aguinaldo, authorized
the following statement concerning a
published report that the government
had intercepted dispatches from him ia
Aguinaldo in which he advised that the
Filipinos would have 10 fight for their
Independence, and that now was the time
to act:
The statement is absolutely false. and
is calculated TO excite feeling and ami
mostly in this country and 10 prejudice
the Philippine 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 state
ment is shown by the fact that have
cabled my government 20 continue the
same friendship which was born on the
battlefield against spain. The Philip
pine people have no wish and no purpose
TO tight against the Americans unless
they are driven to it, Their only desire
Is TO strengthen the bonds now existing"
Other members of the Filipino Junta
who We're present when Agoncillo made
his statement concurred in what he said
and emphasized the latter's declaration
that all his advlces had been toward an
avoidance Of a rupture.
In other quarters IL was stated that
Agoncillo had sent dispatches from time
to time, three rather long ones going
within the last few days. According TO
the Eilipinos nothing that has been sent
advised lighting, but everything has
counselled continued friendship. Under
such circumstances the members of the
junta assert that any discriminating dis
patch which has come into the HANDS OF
the government is a forgery II II ascribes
TO Agoncillo any advice TO Aguinado to
begin fighting. Beyond denying this re-
port Agoncillo said he had nothing 10
make public.
I The officials at the state department
are mute respecting the treatment TO be
accorded Agoncilo, but 1t is known
that he has been held under surveillance
ever since his arrival in this city, and
that il was learned that he was in CORE
spondence over the cables with mis- chief,
generally through some one of the Philip
pine juntas In Hong Kong, London or
Paris, but whether any telegram has
been actually intercepted cannot be
learned.
There was good ground also for the be-
lief that Agonclllo was receiving advice
from certain persons inimical to the
policy the president has adopted for the
treatment of the Philippine question at
this stage. This had been tolerated re-
luctantly by the administration rather
than to make an open issue of what is
still a case possible of adjustment The
a 4 n pat NaH
10 be a very good abstract, with exact
quotations. Of the letter left the daypre-
| ceding the publication by Agoncillo's
secretary at the state department, like
wise was resented as a notable breach
| OF official decorum.
The first inclination OF the officials
| after this publica tion was to get rid Of
Agoncillo. but officials were 10th TO take
| any action in advance OF the senate pas
sage upon the pending peace treaty.
| especially as action might involve pass
| ing upon certain legal and diplomatic
| points involved as 10 which ii is desired
not to establish precedents at this time.
Administration officials believe the
| general tenor of the sdvices Agoncilo
has sent his principals has been i'm the
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 i'm the United
! States senate.
The situation at Manila Is regarded as
critical, OF course. but the officials see no
| reason why they cannot command II for
a time at least General Otis reported
/ Thursday that he could hold out beyond
a doubt until his endorsements arrived.
and added that as the news had reached
Manila that there was every prospect
that the peace treaty will be soon rati-
fed by the United States senate the e.
feet upon the native element had been
salutery.