The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-22
The Trouble Pratt Made.

ments which have passed from
the state department to the SEN
ate, we have a well-defined misunder-
standing with Aguinaldo's Filipinos.
The state department knew this long
ago and, as was recently mentioned in
the Standard, an inkling of the trouble
leaked out. Quite recently the public
has learned more about this case of
strained relations-as the diplomatic
world calls it-between ourselves and
the islanders; the senate has secured
from Secretary Hays office the secret
correspondence between the department
and its consular representatives in the
Orient.
By all accounts, the Aguinaldo fell
lows wouldn't do thing to Consul
General Pratt, our man at Singapore,
if they could get at him. The CORE
spondence shows that Pratt and other
consuls entered into an agreement by
the terms of which the Filipinos and
the Americans were to act as allies
against Spain and the indepenl-
ence of the Philippines was to be rec
ognized. There was at least an appear
ance of such an understanding.
The Islanders We're nightly pleased
with the arrangement. Wishing to
give proof of their high opinion Of
Pratt, they prepared an address to him,
and it was delivered by Filipino dele
cation, with impressive ceremonies"
This address alluded to the programme
arranged between the consul general
and General Aguinaldo at Singapore,
which was to secure Filipino ''inde-
pendence under the protection of the
United States" The address continued:
Our warmest thanks are especially due
to you, sir, personally, for having been
the first to cultivate relations with
General Aguinaldo and arrange the CO.
operation with Admiral Dewey, thus
supporting out aspirations which time
and subsequent actions have develop
ed and caused to meet with the an
plause and appreciation of your ma
tion."
Pratt's reply was a significant feature
of the ceremony. He congratulated .he
natives and expressed the hope that
the outcome would be "all that could
be desired" by the Aguinaldo people;
when" he said, six weeks ago, T
learned that General Aguinaldo had
arrived incognito at Singapore 7 i'm
mediately sought him out. An hour,
interview convinced me he was the ma,
for the occasion, and, having commun-
1cated with Admiral Dewey, I ace r1
ingly arranged for him to join the lat
ter. which he did at Cavite. Il am
thankful of having been the means,
though merely the accidental means. Of
bringing about the arrangement he
tween General Aguinaldo and Admiral
Dewey which has resulted so happi-
ly."
The Pratt demonstration was report
ed in the local press, and he sent cop-
les of the newspapers to the state de-
partment at Washington. These were
promptly suppressed by Secretary
Days orders who sent to Pratt a letter
of rebuke in which the fear was ex-
pressed that his indiscreet utterances
may have laid the ground of future
misunderstanding and complications.
That Mr.. Pratt acted on his own
authority and i'll advisedly is made ap-
parent by dispatch from the depart
ment to him, dated June Is, which
rangement with Aguinaldo at Singa-
pore, and eight days after the present.
alton of the Filipino address to Mr..
Pratt. In that dispatch, which had
the approval of the president and was
carefully scrutinized before being senr.
Secretary Day said: 'In the course of
your conferences with General Aguin-
aldo you acted upon the assumption
that this government would co-oper-
ate with him for the furtherance of any
plans of his own, or that in accepting
his cooperation it would consider it.
self pledged to recognize any political
claims which he may put forward.
Your action was unauthorized and can
not be approved"
This correspondence is now in pos
session of the senate. In diplomatic