The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-01

Washington, May 31.-The secretary
of war today made public the report OF
General Otis, dated Manila, transmit
ting the reports of his subordinate Of
ficers on the operations around Manila
ra to April 6.
The feature of the report is General
Otis correspondence with Aguinaldo
who, the report says. warned the Unit
ed States authorities as early as June,
1898, against the landing OF their mill
tary forces on Philippine soil without
first obtaining his consent.
In January last conservative Fill
pinos asked General Otis to appoint a
committee of army officers to confer
with a committee representing the So
called filipino government, with a
view OF effecting a compromise by
which peace might be maintained. Gen.
eral Otis refused to recognize the So
called government, but stated that he
was willing to negotiate with Agui-
naldo or a commission appointed by
him.
on Jan. 9 General Otis received from
Aguinaldo a letter, in which the Fill
pino says:
L have been informed, after an in
terview between the commissioners Of
my government and Mr.. Carman, that
there will be no inconvenience on your
part, in naming, as commanding gen.
eral, representatives that will confer
with those whom l will name for the
same object.
Names His Commissioners.
Although it not being explained to
me the reason why you could not treat
with the commissioners of nv govern
ment, 1 have the faculty of doing the
same with those of the commanding
general who cannot be recognized
Nevertheless, for the sake of peace, L
have considered it advisable to name
as commanding general, a commission
composed OF the following gentlemen:
J'lorenfino Flores. Ambrosio Flores and
Manuel Arguieiles, that they may to-
gsther represent me and arrive at an
accord with those whom you viii name,
with the object of using such methods
as VIII neutralize the actual situation
created by the attitude of your own
government and troops. If you Will
deign to attend to said commissioners,
and through these methods come to
some understanding, if only temporary,
that will insure peace and harmony
amongst ourselves. the Filipino public
would reach a grateful glory"
In his reply TO this letter, General
Otis said:
receipt of your communication of today
and am much pleased at the action you
have taken. | greatly regret that you
have not a clear understanding of my
position and motives, and trust that
my explanation, assisted by the confer
ence ! have invited, will make them
clear to YOU.
In my official capacity ! am merely
the agent of the United States govern
ment to conduct its affairs under the
limits which its constitution and laws
recognize and cannot recognize a ma
uonal or civil power not already for
mally recognized by my government,
unless specially authorized to do so by
the instructions Of the executive of the
United States. For this reason l was
unable TO receive officially the repre-
sentatives of the revolutionary govern
meIft and endeavOred to make that in
ability clear TO the distinguished gentle
men with whom l had the pleasure to
converse few evenings since.
You Will bear witness that my course
throughout my entire official connection
with affairs here has been consistent,
and il has panied me that / have not
been able to receive and answer com
munications of the cabinet officers Of
the government at Malolos. fearing [
might be enormously charged with lack
of courtesy.
Gives Some Plain Talk
Permit me now briefly. general. to
speak of the serious misunderstanding
which exists between the Philippine
people and the representative of the
United States government. and which
] hope that our commissioners. by a
thorough discussion may be able to dis
pei | sincerely believe that all desire
peace and harmony. and yet. by ma
of evil disposed persons the
people have been influenced to think /
that We occupy the position of adver- /
saries.
The Filipinos appear to be Of the !
opinion that we mediate attack, while !
I am under the strict orders of the 4
president Of the United States to avoid 1
conflict IN any way possible. My troops, |
the earnestness. the COM |
disturbed and unfriendly at |
titude of the revolutionary troops and |
many of the citizens of Manila, con-
clu-e that active hOstilities have been
determined upon. although it must be i
clearly within the perception of fair /
ana rejecting minds that the welfare |
and happiness of the Philippine people !
depends upon the friendly protection of
the United States.
THE hand Of Spain was forced. and
she acknowledged before the world that
al her claimed rights in this country
have departed by due process of law.
This treaty acknowledgment with the
conditions which accompany it, awaits
ratification by the senate of the United
states. and the action of its congress
must also be secured before the execu-
tive of that government can proclaim
1 definite policy That policy must
conform to the viii of the people of the
United States, expressed through its
tiVeS in congress
Should Be No Conflict.
For that action the Philippine peo-
1le should await, at least, before sever
ng the existing friendly relations.
nm governed by a desire to further the
interests OF the Philippine people. and
hall continue TO labor with that end |
n view There should be no conflict
# forces If l am able to avoid it: and
'tiil shall endeavOr to maintain DO
ition to meet all emergencies that may
rise
General Otis says the negotiations be-
ween the two commissions reached no
conclusion, as the insurgent members
,ould not submit any formulated state
nent which they were able to maintain.
they presented as the desire of the in
urgents absolute independence under
he protection of the United States. but
he nature and scope of the protection
Wished for they could not explain, and
he conferences resulted in failure.
In the latter part of January the in