Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-16
PLEA OF FILlPINOS
Memorandum Filed by AgonciIlo, Aguin-
aldo's Representative.
Awaiting Reply to His Request to BE
Presented to the Presi-
dent.

Senior Felipe Agoncilo, the representa-
tive of General Aguinaldo in Washington,
has filed with the State Department a
memorandum setting forth at length the
reasons for his claim that the Philippine
government should be recognized by the
United States. Accompanying the memo
randum is a letter in which Senior Agon-
clio states that he has received no reply
to his communication of January q, in
which he asked that suitable time be
arranged when he could be presented to the
President and heard upon his claims. In
view of the position in which the repre-
sentatiVes Of the American government and
the representatives of the Philippine gov
eminent find themselves upon the Islands
at this time, he urges that the matter be
given immediate attention.
The letter and the memorandum have
been listed as official documents in the
State Department, and are now in the
hands of Secretary Hay. The memoran-
dunn is along the same lines as statements
heretofore made public by the Filipino rep
resentative Senior Agoncillo asserts the
Filipinos established and for seven months
have maintained form of government re-
sembling the American, in that it is based
upon the right of the people to rule; that
Spain having at the time of the signing
of the treaty of peace possession of only
one port, and the remainder of the Philip
pines, except Manila. being in possession
of the Philippine republic, Spain could give
no title to the United States for the is
lands and that having no title to give her
claim cannot be rendered better by the rati-
lcation of the treaty of peace.
AgOniciIIO's Argument.
Senior AgOncillo's memorandum concludes
with the following summary of his argu-
ment:
American precept and example have in
fiuenced my people to desire independent
government.
Suffering, as did the Americans, from
alien rule, they rose and drove out foreign
masters. .
They established and for seven months
have maintained a form of government
resembling the American, in that it is
| based upon the right of people to rule.
This government has, according to doc
trines laid down by distinguished Ameri-
can Secretaries Ct State, become entitled
to recognition by the American republic.
The expelled government of Spain, hav-
| ing, at the time of the signing of the treaty
of peace, possession of only one port and
the remainder of the Philippines, except
Manila, being in the possession of the Phil
ippine republic and all insignia of SOW
ereignty having passed from Spain, that
country could give title to the United
States for the Philippine Islands.
Spain. having no title to give, her claim
cannot be rendered better by the ratifica-
ton of the treaty of peace.
From the foregoing it would seem to
follow that the present recognition of the
first republic of Asia by the greatest re-
public of America would be consonant with
right, justice, and precedent.
Il cannot close this memorandum with
out taking occasion to assure you of the
gratitude felt by my countrymen toward
the Americans for the assistance rendered
| them in the attainment of their liberty,
and of their strong desire in every way,
less than their effacement as a nation, to
give practical expression to this graft
tude. and further to hope that as self-re-
speeding nations the bonds of friendship
between the two may grow stronger with
the passage of years"