The evening times., 1899-03-15
aguinaIdo's Prisoners.

Spain sent commission to Manila to ne
gotiate with Aguinaldo for the release OF
the prisoners in his hands. The rebel
chief demanded seven million dollars and
it is the purpose of the commission to pay
this sum. if smaller will not do. General
Otis has interfered. He said the money
would be used to buy arms and ammuni-
ton with which to prolong the war He
regarded such a payment of money as
equivalent 10 giving munitions of war to
the enemy Against this decision Spain
proposes to appeal to the Government at
Washington and to the European powers
The commissioners charge that General
Otis has violated the Treaty of Paris.
Perhaps Spain has some cause to COM
plain of the dilatory policy of the Presi-
dent from the signing Of the Treaty at
Paris to the simultaneous ratification by
the Senate and the attack on the American
lines The Paris pledge of this Government
was not TO obtain the release of the pris-
oners. but to use its influence and au-
thority TO that end. When this promise
was made there was reason 10 believe Ag-
uinaldo would submit to the demand Of
General Otis for the surrender of the un-
happy captives. 1t was not then apparent
that the personal ambition of the Malay
chief would carry him TO the point of
forcible resistance TO American authority.
When, however, he positively refused to
consider any proposition except a money
ransom. Spain had some right to think
General Otis should be instructed TO COM
pei the prisoners release. From the point
of view of that government, We were bound
not only TO maintain the peace at Manila
and throughout the Island of Luzon, but
to prevent any abuses by armed Filipi-
nos and especially to prevent the holding
of Spaniards after the war had ceased and
Spain's sovereignty had been actually with
drawn.
Americans. also, have reason TO de-
plore the technical view of the President
since display of firmness and force at
that time would have established our su-
premacy beyond challenge by Aguinaldo
| This is the opinion of all army officers and
others in the Philippines. The President
took the stand that until the Senate should
ratify the Treaty the protocol was in ef-
| feet and that this restrained US from dis
! turbing the then status, even to wrest the
| Spanish prisoners from the Filipinos. 1t
is q fact that we did not then comply
with the promise 10 use our influence and
authority TO that end.
Since then, however. We have not been
blamable and il is particularly absurd tC
say that We owe more TO Spain and hel
prisoners than to our own soldiers. There
is nothing in the pledge that could imply
duty to aid the Spanish prisoners at the
cost of Strengthening the rebels and pro-
longing the war. Ii would be just as rea-
sonable to say that it would be our duty
under the Treaty TO exchange arms and
ammunition and rations with Aguinaldo for
the Spanards in his possession. What
Spain demands is virtually this-that Gen
eral Otis shall allow seven million dol
lars worth of war material to go to the
enemy in return for captive Spaniards with
whose capture by Aguinaldo We had moth
ing TO do. No foreign nation would con-
slider complaint based on such a propo-
sition.