The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-06
THE TREATY OF PEACE
Is Now Before the National Senate
For Ratification. \
attuAINous CORRESPONDENCE.

the Insurgentsin the Belief That Our
Government W ould Aid Them in Es-
tablishin9 Their Independence.
Washington, Jan. 6.-The peace treaty
Of Paris was transmitted to the senate
at yesterdays executive session. with
the following brief message from the
president:
II Transmit herewith, with a view to
tts ratification, treaty Of peace be.
tween the United States and Spain
signed at the city Of Paris on Dec. TO-
1898, together with the protocols and
papers indicated in the list accompany
ing the report Of the secretary Of state"
Accompanying the treaty, all the
: points OF which have been already pub
lished, Is a great mass of correspond
ence. making printed volume of G75
pages. This includes among other
things all Of the credentials Of the
American commissioners to Paris and
the protocols. which are the records Of
the daily proceedings Of the commits
sioners that lead up to the final treaty
Of peace. There Is also included all the
correspondence that passed between the
French embassy here and the depart
ment of state.
Included in this correspondence is n
letter from M. Thiebaut, the French
charge, protesting against the contin-
uanee of the operations of the insur-
gents in the Philippines. which he as
sumed was with the knowledge and
consent Of the American commanders
and suggesting that the Spanish troops
captured at Manila be allowed to fight
the Filipinos. To this Mr.. Moore. act
ing secretary, replied on Sept. that
upon investigation he had found that
most of the statements were ground
less, There was q sort of "a suggestion
from the French charge to the effect
that the families of the Spanish officers
who were captured at Guam were suf-
fering. a.r
There Is included all of the Philip
pines correspondence that passed be-
tween the department of state and the
United States consuls at Manila, Hong
Kong and Singapore. Consul Williams,
at Manila. before the actual outbreak
Of war, reported series of most hor-
rible outrages by the Spaniards upon
the Filipinos. He declared that 8 per
cent of the latter are loyal to Spain.
He complains Of being surrounded by
spies everywhere, saying that even his
consular office is not safe from them.
Consul Williams, at Hong Kong on
Nov. 8, telegraphed that General Agon-
clio was coming to Washington. He
said: "He has power to make treaties
with foreign governments, and has
proposed an offensive and defensive al
lance with the United States" Agon-
clio asked for arms to aid the rebel.
lion. Acting Secretary Cridler, on Dec.
Is, replied, telling Wildman to advise |,
Agoncillo that the United States does
not negotiate treaties and 1t Is not |
possible to forward arms. A long let |
ter of date of July IS from Consul Wild. |
man defends Agoncillo as man who |
has been systematically blackened. |!
Says he: According to his own state |
ment, he has been approached by Spain |
and Germany, and has tempting offers
from the Catholic church."
April % Consul Pratt telegraphed
from Singapore: "Aguinaldo gone my
instance Hong Kong arrange with
Dewey cooperation insurgents Man
fla"
June 20 Secretary Day telegraphed
Pratt: avoid any negotiations with
Philippine insurgents"
Pratt replied that he had no inten-
lions of negotiating. Says he: Left
that to Dewey, who desires Aguinaldo
to come"
July Q Pratt reported to the depart
ment that the sultan of the Sulu ISL
ands was negotiating at Singapore for
the annexation of his group to British
which he said should be watch
ed.
All Of the statements made by Gen.
eral Merritt before the American COM
mission at Paris appear in the docu-
ment. In substance he said the in
surgents would fight If the attempt
was made to surrender Luzon to Spain.
Spain could not produce the islands un-
aided. Asked whether the insurgents
were capable of government he replied
that 1t would take time. they would
have to be educated up to it. Sena-
.or Frye asked IL the natives would en-
list under the American flag If Aguin-
aldo could be given command, and
Merritt replied in the affirmative to
10Th questions. Further he said that
Major Bells report showed that the
had 39,5O0 stand of arms
Aguinaldo had $780, 900 in bank in Hong
Kong and 100000 of public funds in
3acoor. Major Bell expressed the
pinion that if the United States should
Govern the islands for year Aguin.
lido would have no army left.
General Greene's statement Is also
He said there were $4,000
panish prisoners in the Philippines, in
luding 400 officers, with $4,000 arms
nd 22O00O0O rounds of ammunition.
lie described Aguinaldos character,
nd said much tact would be required
n dealing with Aguinaldo. In his
pinion that chieftain did not command
he support of d large body of Fill
mos Then It must be remembered
hat the insurgents were all Tagalos.
My one of the 30 races in the Philip ,
ines. At the time he spoke none Of
ne 2,00O,0 900 Visayas, people of equal :
bilities, had taken any part. He was !,
sked what chance there would be for
alive government, to which he re- ..
lied: mo native government can
Iaintain itself without the active sup
ort of strong foreign government"