Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-06
Correspondence Accompanying the
Treaty of Peace.
ATTITUDE OF TIE FILIPINOS
Testimony of Messrs. Williams and
WiIdman.
FRIENDSHIP FOR AMERICANS

war. He was in constant communication
with Aguinaldo for some time after the
battle of Manila bay, and his letters throw
much light upon the relations with the
Philippine chieftan.
AS early as February % last Mr.. Williams
wrote: THE governor general, who is ami
able and popular, having resigned, wishes
credit for pacification, and certain rebel
leaders were given cash bride of 81 $50 GOO
to consent to public deportation to China.
This bride and deportation he adds, ''only
multiplied claimants and famed the fires of
discomfort
On March 10 he complained that letters
and kilograms Were tempered with, and he
then found it necessary to keep open house
constantly for the benefit of American citi-
ZenS there.
Spanish Atrocities.
He dwells much at this time on the move
ment of the natives, showing the disloyalty
of the native troops to Spain, and the
growth of the rebellion, and he also relates
many atrocities on the part of the Span
lards. one OF these occurred on March -,
when a meeting of natives was broken I'D
by force, many being Wantonly shot to
death and siXty-two taken prisoners The
next day the SiXty-two prisoners were
marched to the cemetery and shot
down in body. Many of these, Mr..
Williams adds, were not participants in the
meeting. He also adds that such horrors
though on a smaller scale were of almost
daily occurrence. He also reports that sew
erai hundred native prisoners We're DISPOSED
OF by being placed in low dungeons in the
city walls, where they We're drowned nv the
rise of the tide. adding: "CrueIties too hor
fid Tor an official report are detailed to me
every DAY, and 1t seems that the cry of
outraged humanity would soon compel
SPAN to abolish middle-age warfare"
Influence Of obi,
as the greatest bar to progress in the is
lands. Mr.. Williams also stated that everv
leisure hour was devoted to the inspection
OF the forts, arsenals and battle Sims in
and about Manila, even at that early dav
ana that ne was sending information tins
derived to Commodore Dewey. who. win
ms meet was then at Hong Kong Spies
Were SO thick that he did not dare CON-
his dispatches In office books. p'
Aguinaldo's Friendship.
Mr.. Williams left Manila An~il % H.
was a witness of Dewey's victory, and Nav
II resumed his reports from Cayita m,
hrst dispatch of that date begins with as
surance of the friendlfness of tho phi1;,,
pine natives to our country ana to me as
Its representative. Scores of times" he
continues, Il have heard hopes expressed
that either the United States or Great Brit
ain would acquire these islands,,
lie then expressed the opinion that few
United states officers would be needed for
Gohquest ana fewer still for occupancy.
WIN the Spaniards removed he Thought
civil government could easily be establish
ed. He reports frequent conferences lt
that time with AguinaIdo and other insur-
gent leaders, speaking Of their desire to CO.
operate with the American movement For
future advantage" he says, Il am main
tanning cordial relations with Aguinald0.
having stipulated submissiveness to oy,r
lo " When trea ting for their return here"
odd l.,
June 10 that his friends all hoped that
the PhiHpptnes would be held as a COLONY
OF the United States" This was only fonr
days after the first formation of a nro,,;s-
ional government by the natives Mr. WI
hams says he was invited to be present
When this government was organized by the
tllplnos but that he declined. For this
he afterward received A note of annrovaj
from the State Department.
On August he wrote: eft has heen nv,
STUDY 70 Keep on pleasant terms with AgIlin-
ado for ultimate objects. Admiral Dewey
says | have planted the seeds of cordial 90
operation. My agreement with ApninoiJo
mas been that the conditions of government
py 'he United States in the Philippine ISL
ands would be vastly better for him and
ms people in honor, advancement and rrof;t
IMAM could exist under any plan fiyed Nv,
and Fiipinos. have traversed the
entire ground of government with him in
council and he has called his officials from
nfteen provinces to meet for their discus
sion, al stated as friendly but unofficial on
my part Our relations are cordial while
certain antagonisms have arisen between
''t si general ana certain other Americans"
Gay delegations from 1000 Viscavan SOL
oIers, also representing southern business
interests came to me piedging loyalty 10
Several nsurGent leaders like
wise Spain cannot control. If we evacu-
ate anarchy rules
Visit From AgOnciIIo
Writing November 3, 1897. from Hong
Kong, Mr. Williams told of a visit from
Senior Agoncillo the foreign agent and
hlgh commissioner of the Philippine Is
lahd government, who is now in Wash
'hstoh. On this point Mr.. Williams
says: Mr. Agoncilo holds a commission
signed by the president. members of cab
met and general-in-chief of the republic
Oh the Philippines empowering him abso-
lnte1y to conclude treaties with foreign
governments. Mr.. Agoncillo offers on be-
nan OF his government alliance, offensive
when the United States declares war on
spain which, in Mr.. Agoncillo's Judgment.
Will be very soon. In the meantime he
wishes the United States to send to some
port IN the Philippines 10000 stands of
arms and 100000 rounds of ammunition for
the use OF his government, to be paid for
on the recognition of his government by
the United States. He pledges as security
n
Manila. He is not particular about the
price-is willing the United States should
make 70 per cent or 30 per cent profit He
IS a very earnest and attentive diplomat
ana great admirer of the United states
On his last visit he surprised me with The
information that he had written his gov
eminent that he had hopes of inducing the
United States to supply the much-needed
guns. &c. Senior AgonciIlo informs me by
the late mail that he will proceed at once
TO Washington to conclude the proposed
treaty If ] advise. / shall not advise said
step until so instructed by the State De-
partment."
Replying to this message on December IL
Iast Third Assistant Secretary of State
Crldler wrote acknowledging the receipt of
the dispatch, summarizing its contents and
saying: You may briefly advise Mr. AEON
clllo' IN case he should call upon you, that
the government of the United States does
not negotiate such treaties and that if is
not possible to forward the desired arms
and ammunition. You should not encourage
any advances on the part of Mr. Agon-
clio, and should courteously decline 10
communicate with the department further
regarding his alleged mission"
July Mr. Williams recommended that
If long occupation was in contemplation"
as many Americans of all trades and both
sexes be induced to go to the islands as
soon as possible, as this course would
simplify matters generally
Consul WiIdman and AguinaIdo