The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-08
AguinaldO Appeals to the Pow
ers For Recognition.
Repeats Old Story About Dewey
and COnSuls.
PROMISES WERE MADE
Ind Guns Furnished Him, He
Declares.
China Moves In Direction OF
Recognition.

Manila, Aug. $3.50 p m--AguinaIdo
has appealed to the powers for recogni-
tion of Filipino independence" in
document dated from Tarlac, July 27
and signed by Buencamino. 1t has been
received by all the foreign consuls in
Manila with the request that they for
ward it to their respective governments
The FIipinos use their old argument
that they had conquered the sovereignty
Of these islands from Spain before the
signing of the treaty of Paris and there
fore Spain was in no position to cede
them to the United States. They argue
that the possession of 1000 Spanish
prisoners captured with their arms!
fighting against the Filipinos lis elO-
quent proof of the nullity of Spanish
sovereignty, as when they surrendered
SPANS hold was irrevocably lost
The document then says:
Replying to the Spanish commits
siOn's requests to release the prisoners
because Spain no longer has political
power in this island we asked for
treaty of peace and friendship between
Spain and the FilipinOs whereby the
prisoners would be released. But the
commissioners refused, because it would
mean recognition of our independence
This is equivalent to saying that the
prisoners must stay in our hands in
definitely. because their possession is
our most efficaciOus method to adjust
our account with Spain and obtain from
her recognition of our independence.
The Fiipinos claim that they con-
ouered all the country except Manila
and that they cO-Operated in securing
the latter'S capitulatiOn at the cost of
thousands of lives. They also claim
they conquered the country unassisted.
except for sixty guns that Admiral
Dewey gave AguinaIdo and that Ad-
miral Dewey and the British and Bel
gfan consuls recognized the Filipino
sovereignty by asking for passes to
visit the country
They repeat the claim that they have
letters from American cOnsuls and gen
erals recognizing their sovereignty, and
promising that the Americans would
recognize their independence which
was at the disposition of the powers
The FilipinOs attempt to make capital
of the statement that Admiral Dewey
had such confidence that Aguinaldo
would observe and fulfill the rules of
war that he gave him a hundred Span
ash prisoners which the American navy
had captured.
Finally, the FiEpinOs appeal to the
powers to influence Washington to
bring to a termination the unjust war
which is devastating the country"
WASHINGTON HASN'T HEARD.
Washington, Aug S.-The state de-
paTtment is entirely without infOrma-
tion as to any address by Aguinaldo
to foreign powers for the recognition of
the FfhpinOS either as belligerents or
as constituting an independent govern
ment. The appeal is looked up
on, hOwere, as creating no par
ticular change, as it has been the desire
of AgutnaldO and his associates from
the nrSt to secure such recognition. The
appeal puts this desire into rather for
NAL shape, and it may bring to an issue
the attitude of outside governments.
There is no apprehension, however. that
any foreign government will heed the
address. The international usage as
to recognition was fully developed dur
ing the Cuban insurrectiOn, a t which
time the question was exhaustfveIy dis
cussed in congress and was the subject
of lengthy consideration in the MESA ges
of the president. The general view at
that time was that recognition of bel
Hgerency was not in itself a casus
belli
Up to the present time there has been
no lnumatiOn to the state department
that any foreign power entertained
even the renOtest idea, of giving recog-
milton to AguinaldO and his associates
ON the contrary there has been a most
friendly feeling maintained between
this government and foreign DOyvarS
through the Philippine conflict The
state department does not share the
apprehension which is said to have
arisen among army officers that China
mas given direct recognition to the Fill
p1nOs- This apprehension grew out
OF a report from General Otis that
horses could not be secured for cavalry
II Jill NrAlttA1 D6tdGSE Iney were con-
Sraband of war" AT the state depart
ment it is said that the matter has not
assumed form involving the recogni-
rion of a state of war, but that Minis
ter Conger reports that China's course
IS due entirely to certain domestic reg
ulations prohibiting the expectations of
horses or ponies.
WANTS 81 600 OOO
Madrid. Aug. st is stated that the
Insurgents in the Philippines demand
S7,O00,0O0 for the release Of the Spanish
prisoners held by them
Wop1U AD0-C