The record-union., 1899-01-25
Reports Which Have Reached the
War Department
Lead to Be lief That the Insurgents Are
About to Force an Issue.
Manila Itself, and Not Iloilo, Re-
garded as the Danger Point just
Now-Agoncillo Sends a Com
munication to the State De-
partment in an Attempt to Sc
This Government.

This Government.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-Senor Lo-
peg, Secretary to Agoncillo, the Wash
lngton representative of Aguinaldo,
called at the State Department this
afternoon and lodged with the Chief
Clerk communication which, accord
ing to the common expectation, marks
the critical stage in the Philippine
question This is the third attempt
made by the Filipino representatives
to secure official recognition from the
United States Government. Secretary
Hay, at the time the communication
was presented, was attending a meeting
of the Cabinet at the White House,
SO that all that Chief Clerk Michel
could do under the circumstances was
to receive the paper, as he would any
other handed to him.
The advices from Manila which have
reached the War Department are far
from reasSuring. 1t is understood that
General Otis reports an expectation on
his part that the insurgents are about
to force an issue, and if this should be
so the result cannot be foreseen. Ma
Mia itself, and not Iloilo, as might be
at first suspected, is regarded as the
danger point just now.
In his communication to the Secre-
tary of State, Senior Don Felipe Agon-
clio calls attention to the fact that on
January 18th he addressed letter to
him upon the question of recognition,
forwarding with it memorandum
demonstrating that, according to all
American precedents, the Philippine
Republic was entitled to recognition,
and in the same letter invited the at
tention of the Secretary to the present
strained conditions at Manila, where
overzeal on either side might create a
condition resulting in grievous loss of
life. and urging the necessity of an
early and frank communication be-
tween the representatives of the two
countries.
He further calls attention to the fact
that since his letter was written the
very circumstances he feared have
brought the two countries to the edge
of war, and says that the language
used by him was so prophetic that sub
sequent facts have amply justified its
employment. He now desires to call
the attention of the Secretary to GER
tain conditions which, in his opinion,
require immediate alienation.
There are, he says, at the present
time 10000 American troops at Manila,
controlling a population of about 3OO,-
600. A number of war vessels are sta
toned in the harbor, and many other
American men-of-war and transports
are to be found within the archipelago,
although the actual possession of the
American troops extends over not to
exceed 143 square miles out of more
than 100000.
Despite the enormous forces now in
this extremely circumscribed area" he
says, 1--WE are informed through the
public prints that other vessels of war
have been ordered from distant parts
of the globe to reinforce those now
among the islands in question, while a
few days ago a transport sailed from
New York City carrying about 1000
soldiers. and having Manila as a desti-
nation. and as we are further informed
regiments of troops are under orders to
proceed by way of San Francisco to
the Philippines. The public prints in
form us that an attack is contemplated
upon the Philippine Islands; the islands
to be taken in detail. the smaller ones
first, the larger ones blockaded so that
they may not assist those first at
tackled
He says it is naturally the impression
of his Government and people that these
warlike preparations indicate existing
or immediate military operations in the
Orient. and they readily conceive that
it must be contemplated that such
operations are to be levelled at the ex-
- t,a
..As to representation of the Philip
pine Government" he continues. II hes
itate to give decision to this idea for
/ cannot believe that there is any pres
emf or future difficulty between the
American and Philippine Governments
iustifying warlike activities, and as a
believer in the humanity of the Ameri-
can people, refuse to acquiesce in the
idea that Americas designs were upon
the Philippine Islands"
He points out the fact that but lately
the United States and Philippine Gov
ernments have been associated in a
conf,ict against a common enemy. The
United States accomplished its purpose
nv the expulsion of Spain from the
West Indies, while the desire OF the
Philippine republic has been practic-
ally attained Dy tue dlLioSt SoiiiPiSee
expulsion of the Spanish Government
from the Philippine Islands; the
Philippine GOVERNMENT now hold
ing as prisoners of war pc
tween nine and ten thousand Spanish
soldiers and the Spanish possessing
only a few small garrisons in isolated
points of minor Importance He IS
therefore unable to conceive any reason
why the armies and navies of the Unit
ed States. lately employed against q
common enemy should be turned
against Americas recent associate.
The United States, he says, mas no
active enemy in the Orient. having
proclaimed an armistice with Spain II
is true, he continues that Spain has
undertaken to convey to the United
states its alleged claim against the
philippines, claim which Spain was
NOT capable of enforcing and which
never found its origin in the consent OF
the people of those islands. He in
ouires: "Are my Government and
neople to be left to suppose that it is
. because Of some desire on the part OF
the American Government to force
arainst it's late associates this exploded