The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-24

government Would
Regarded as IA Serious ORense.
Says Secretary AIger sa,
AgOncilIo Does Not Exrao.
Called From washington
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2s.-secretarv
Anger this afternoon said while he
would be pleased to hear that tba
rllplnos had liberated the Snanisb
prisoners held by them. he had no o.
ncIal information to affirm the ranor+
10 that effect coming from Madrid
deh Otls has been cabled for accurate
iiiioi inlation respecting the number or
'iiese prisoners, but SO far he has not
given the information. The govern
ment Is pledged to endeavor to secura
their release. and It will use evarv
proper effort to do So but il cannot ba
ieiu 10 the performance of the impos-
siple' must be allowed it's own time.
ana the use of what it deems the best
means to accomplish the task. II is mot
10 De supposed for a moment that the
spanish government, no matter ho,v
deslrous of securing the release of the
prisoners more speedily than could he
accomplished through the efforts of the
United States government. will en+er
into any alliance with the insurgents
Technically the war is still in progress
aIthougn active hostilities are suspend
eo, ana any conduct on the part Of the
spanish government that would tend
to increase the difficulties of the TTnit-
cd states in dealing with the insurgents
may have to be reckoned for. This
statement might not be held to appIy
70 simple effort on the part of the
spanish government to secure the re-
lease OF their subjects, but it could NOT
De tolerated that they should enter
into any sort of an alliance with peo-
pie who are in rebellion against the
United States.
Inc officials here are not moved nv
the reported threat of the Filipino
1unta in Europe to withdraw Agon-
clio and his fellows from Washington
If they are not speedily recognized Of
nc1ally. While AgoncflIo has been well
treated informally he has not been
recognized by the government, and it
may be stated positively that he will
not be.
MI READY TO TALK
The Filipino representatives here are
not prepared at this time to state when
their efforts to obtain recognition for
the Aguinaldo government are to cease.
This is question. they say, that will
depend entirely on circumstances that
may develop as a result of their at
tempts to be diplomatfcally received
here. and the action Of the senate on
the peace treaty.
Senor -AgonciiIe the chief agent of
Aguinaldo, said tonight that the re-
ports he had received from his govern
plent showed no change in the condi
ton of affairs in the islands. and there
was no particular news to communf-
cate The reyolutionists have reg
ular form of government and are car
rying out its functions He and his
associates here would use every proper
effort TO obtain recognition for them.
and he hoped they would be crowned
With success. Up to this time, however.
no reply had come from the state de-
partment to their letters asking for the
recognition desired
Senor Agoncillo evidently discredited
the reports that he would be recalled
to Manila in a few days If his efforts
were not successful, as he stated that
there had been no word from A AguinaIdo
to return home. The envoy made it
very clear that the Filipinos would not
provoke hostilities with the United
States, but every attempt would be
made to reach peaceful solution of
the existing difficulties.
Mr., Ralston, one of the attorneys who
has been engaged by the ENJOYS as
counsel said in an interview TODAY that
the Filipinos have come here to do all
they can to secure their recognition as
nation. Their case, he declared is a
good one, as the Filipino government
has won for itself the practical control
of all the Philippine islands. Mr.. Raj
ston said the Filipinos wanted indie
pendence, and they would be prepared
to defend it against any other foreign
power, which would find them as diff
cult to subdue as would the United
States. THE ENJOYS" he stated, ARE
here not to form a junta, not as agi-
tators, not to prevent ratification OF
the treaty, but as diplomatic repre-
sentatives Of their government. The
natives do not favor annexation, and
Even those are less than they were
six months ago. The delegates are here
to secure the recognition of absolute
independence, and less will not satisfy
them. Within week they viii be able
to make an official statement as TO
their claims and policy"