Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-27
AGONCILLO DENIES
Has Not Urged His Countrymen to
Fight Us.
ANY SUCH DISPATCH A FORGERY
Declares That He Has Striven to
Strengthen Friendship.
THE DEPARTMENT VIEW

independence, and that now was the time
to act:
THE statement is absolutely false and is
calculated to excite feeling and anmosty
in this country and to prejudice the Phil
ippine cause. No such telegram has ever
been sent by me, and for that reason no
such telegram could have been intercepted.
The falsity Of the statement is shown by
the fact that have cabled my government
to continue the same friendship which was
born on the battlefield against Spain. The
Philippine people have no wish and no pur
pose 10 fight against the Americans unless
they are driven to it. Their only desire is
to strengthen the bonds now existing"
Other members of the Filipino junta who
were present when Agonciilo made his
statement concurred in what he said and
emphasized the latters declaration that all
his advces had been toward an avoidance
of a rupture.
In other quarters it was stated that
ASoncillo had sent dispatches from time to
time, three long ones going within the last
few days. According to the Filipinos moth
ing has been sent advising fighting, but
everything has counseled continued friend
ship. Under such circumstances the men,
bers of the junta assert that any incrimi
mating dispatch which has come into the
hands of the government is a forgery if i:
ascribes to Agoncllo any advice to Aguin-
aldo to begin fighting. Beyond denying this
report Agoncillo said he had nothing to
make public as to communications to or
from Aguinaldo. He expressed the positive
opinion, however that the cable report that
the Filipino congress had authorized a
declaration of war not correct, as. he
says, the Filipino people do not want a
conflict with the Americans and will do
everything possible to avoid it.
officials Are Reticent.
The officials at the State Department are
mute respecting the treatment to be ac-
corded Agoncllo, although it is known that
he has been held under surveillance ever
since his arrival in this city. 1t was known
that he was in correspondence over the
cables with his chief, generally through
some one of the Philippine juntas in Hong
Kong, London or Paris, and there was
good ground for the belief that he was re-
ceving advice from certain persons mimi
cal to the policy the President has adopted
for the treatment of the Philippine ques-
ton at this stage. Some of these persons
are said TO be high in station. This condi-
tion has been tolerated reluctantly by the
administration, rather than make an open
Issue of what is still a case possible of
adjustment.
A Breach of Official DecOrum.
Fuel was added to the mitigation felt at
the breach of the laws of hospitality by
the Philippine delegation here at the pub
lication two days ago of what proved to
be a very good abstract, with exact quo
tations of the letter left the day preceding
the publication by Agoncillo's secretary at
the state Department. This was pro-
nounced to be a notable breach of official
decorum, and the first inclination of the
officials was to send Senor Agoncillo his
passports. 1t was found that this could
not be done, for the reason that 1t would
amount to an official recognition of his dip
lomatic powers-something that the Presi-
dent is determined shall not be accorded
In the consideration of the means open
to rid themselves of the unwelcome visitor
the officials have been hampered by the
fact that any action they took in advance
Of the action of the Senate upon the pend
ing peace treaty might involve the estab-
iishment of a most disagreeable precedent.
To regard Agoncillo in the light of a spy
might be tantamount to an admission that
we are still in state of active war, while
to hold him guilty of treason would involve
the assumption that he is an American
citizen and indirectly that our Jurisdiction
over the whole of the Philippines is COM
plete. These are points that it is not be-
neVed TO be timely to pass upon just now.
The Alleged Captured Telegram
Meanwhile, although knowing that the
official eye was upon his actions, Agoncilo
has, 1t Is charged, been actively sending ad-
vices, or at least trying to send them, to
his principals The general tenor of these
is believed to have been In the line of ad-
monition to hold off from the acceptance of
any terms from General Otis, in view of
the prospect that the peace treaty might
fail in the United States Senate. 1t is re-
ported that a misunderstanding cablegram
of this kind has been captured by the gov
ernment officers, but this cannot be con-
firmed.
The alleged intercepted telegram from
Agonclllo gave complete outline of the
situation here as viewed by Aguinaldo'S
representative He said so it is stated.
that the Senate had agreed to vote on the
peace treaty February 6; that the treaty
would probably be ratified; that it was the
Presidents purpose to pursue an aggressive
policy in the Philippines when the treaty
ments reached Manila early In February
and that whatever steps the Fflipinos de-
termned upon to secure their independence
should be taken at once before the arrival
or the reinforcements from the United
States.
There is reason to believe that the Off
cials have about reached the conclusion
that Agoncilio is really trying to force an
issue that shall result in his expulsion. and
in his subsequent glorification and reward
by his people, and they are indisposed to
act hastily toward the qualification of this
desire.
The Situation at Manila.
The situation at Manila is regarded as
critical, of course, but the officials see no
reason why they cannot control it. for a
time at least. General Otis reported yes
terday, in connection with some matters
ooiiee'Ieu Will the shipment nome OF some
sick Spanish soldiers, that he could ho,,
out beyond doubt until his reinforcements
arrived, and added that as the news had
reached Manila that there was every pros
pect that the peace treaty will be soon rat
ified by the United States Senate. the effect
upon the native element had been salutarv
Attitude of the Administration
1t was learned this afternoon that the
administration does not propose to take
any notice of the fulminations of Agoncillo.
He has no official standing whatever so far
as this government is concerned, and the
Secretary of State has consistently declined
all his overtures toward that end The Of
fcial treatment of his case will depend en-
tirely upon the action of the Senate on the
treaty of peace, and 1t is not at all likely
that any notice whatever will be taken of
him in the meantime. According to the
official view, Agoncilo is at present either
an alien enemy as a subject of Snain Or an