The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-01-07
SOME INSIDE WAR HISTORY
LIGHT THROWN UPON THE REL1-
IIONS WITH AGUINALDO,

Correspondence of Consul williams
With the Rebel Chieftain How Dewey
Was Prevailed Upon to Take Aguin.
aldo Aboard Before Starting for Manila
Matter of Pledges.
washington, Jan. 6.-The correspon-
oence published officially in connection
with the peace treaty contains much of
interest from Consul Williams. who
was stationed at Manila prior to the
war. He was in constant communica-
tion with Aguinaldo some time after
lhe battle of Manila bay and his letters
throw much light upon the relations
with the Philippine chieftain. Feblu.
ary % last Mr.. Williams wrote. The
governor general, who is very popular,
having resigned, wished credit for paci-
hcation, and certain rebel leaders We're
given cash brlbe of 81, ,65O, 900 to con-
sent to public deportation to China.
This bribe and deportation only multi
piled claimants and famed the fires Of
discomfort. On March 19 Consul Will
liams complained that letters and tele-
grams We're tampered with and he then
found it necessary to keep open house
constantly for the benefit of American
citizens there. He dwelt much on the
movements of the natives, showing the
disoyalty of the native troops to Spain
nd 1,n &, 4
he also related many atrocities on the
part of the SDaniards. One of these
occurred on March 25 when meeting
of natives was broken in upon by force,
many being wantonly shot to death and
siXtytwo taken prisoners The next
day the sixty-two prisoners were
marched to the cemetery and shot down
in a body. Many of these were not
participants in the meeting. He also
added that such horrors though on
smaller scale, were of almost daily oc-
currence. He also reported that sever
al hundred native prisoners were dis
posed of by being placed in low dun
geons in the city walls, where they were
drowned by the rise of the tide, adding:
"Cruelties too horrid for the official re-
port are detailed to me every day and
it seems that the cry of outraged hu-
manity would soon compel Spain to
abolish middle-age warfare
He spoke of the influence of the
church as the greatest bar to progress
in the islands. Mr.. Williams also stat
ed that every leisure hour was devoted
to the inspection of the forts, arsenals
in and about Manila and that he was
sending information thus derived to
Comomdore Dewey who, with his fleet,
was then at Hong Kong. Spies were
so thick that he did not dare copy his
dispatches in office books. Mr.. Williams
left Manila on April 90. He was wit
ness of Dewey's victory, and on May IL
resumed his report from Cavite. His
first dispatch of that date began with
assurance of "the friendliness of the
Philippine natives to our country and
to me as it's representative Scores of
times" he continues, Il have heard
hopes expressed that either the United
States or Great Britain would acquire
these islands, "Aguinaldo told me to-
day. he wrote in June 16, that his
friends all hoped that the Philippines
would be held as a colony of the Unit
ed States" This was only four days af-
ter the first formation of a provisional
government by the natives. Mr.. Will
liams said he was invited to be present
when this government was organized by
the Filipinos but that he declined. For
this he afterwards secured note of
approval from the STATE department.
On August IS he wrote: 1T has been
nv study to keep on pleasant terms
with Aguinaldo for ultimate objects.
T hnZ 111n
the seeds of cordial cooperation. My
argument with Aguinaldo has been that
the conditions of government by the |
United States in the Philippine Islands
would be vastly better for him and MS
people in honor, advancement and pro-
gress than under any plan hxed oy
himself. | have traversed the entlre
ground of government with him and
he has called his officials from Foreign
provinces to meet for discussion, all
stated as friendly but unofflcla!'
on July Is Consul williams wrote to
+he secretary of state expressing ms
views on the then reported policy OF the
Tinted States to allow the Phlllpplhe
islands to return to spain. Among
other things, he said, after giving the
particulars of his long res dence ana IN
innate ACQUAINTANCE dHloiS tHC pNoPio
of the Straits settlements: Il consider
the forty or fifty Philippine leaders with
whose fortunes 1 have been very closely
connected both the superiors OF the
Malays and the Cubans. Agulnaldo,
Agonci]lo and Sandico are all men who
would be leaders in their separate de-
partments in any country, while among
the wealthy Manila men who live IN
Hong Kong and who are spending their
money literally for the overtime oW OF the
Spaniards and annexation to the United
States. men like the Corez family and
the Paza family would hold their own
among bankers and lawyers anywhere.
In spite of statements othe contrary,
know they are fighting for annexation
to the United States first and for indie
pendence secondly. In fact, l have had
the most prominent leaders call on me
and say they would not raise one finger
unless I could assure them that the
United States intended to give them cit
izenship if they wished it. There has
been a systematic attempt to blacken
the name of Aguinado and his cabinet I
on account of the questionable terms of
their surrender to the Spanish forces a
year ago this month. 1t has been said