Evening star., 1899-03-09
JUNTA IN THE DARK
Cannot Understand Why Aguinaldo
Began Fight at Manila.
WORST THING FOR THEIR CAUSE
CabaI at Hong Kong Talk Freely
With Mr.. Barrett.
THEY AW WAIT RES L 1T S

HONG KONG, February 8, via San Fran
cisco. March 9--In an interview with the
Associated Press correspondent, John Bar
rett, late United States minister to Siam,
who is passing through Hong Kong en- route
home, said:
This collision of forces at Manila is the
most disastrous thing that could have hap
psned to the Filipino cause for independ-
ence. The leading representatives of Agui-
naldO here and the so-called junta realize
1t, and cannot at the moment understand
ii. They have come to me- almost with
tears in their eyes asking fCr details of the
conflict, and seeking some legitimate ex-
PLANTATION and excuse for the reported be
ginning of the fray by the natives.
''Telegrams have been pouring i'll on them
from their agents in Am erica and Europe
asking for the Filipino side of the story,
but they are unable TO answer, and cannot
communicate with AguindldO or the InsGr-
gent government. Only a few days ago
they assured me that their leaders would
not allow any attack to be begun upon the
American forces, and would even AVOID Il
threatening attitude rather than shoulder
a responsibility of a conflict.
Request to Mr.. Barrett.
They asked me to inform my friends
in Congress to this effect. as well as write
fore. when asked the local leaders TO give
reasons for the outbreak. they stated with
great earnestness that it must have been
due Gf begun by the natives. which they
do not like to acknowledge to the momen-
tary influence of the war party or most
radical element, and that Aguinaldo him
self could not have favored or supported
the action of the Filipino troops.
TIE long continuance of the lighting,
they say. would be accounted for by the
masses of Filipino soldiers being practically
beyond the control of their officers after the
battle had really begun. and being inspired
with the blind hope of driving the American
soldiers into Manila as they had formerly
the Spaniards.
They candidly admit that the worst blow
possible has been struck at their prospects
One even confessed to me that the very
best thing that they could do now was to
disband disarm and quietly Yield to Ameri-
can control, trusting that full justice would
eventually be done them.
Has the Leaders Confidence.
The Filipino leaders have always been
kindly disposed to me and frank in their
discussions. because / knew them here and
in the Philippines, and when they have
talked matters over with me I have invarf-
ably counseled them to accept American
jurisdiction. pending a necessary investiga-
tion of what would be the best kind of
government for the island and to remain
confident that the President and people of
the United States would see that justice
was done them.
After my address delivered a few days
ago, upon the Filipino situation at the re-
quest of the leading men of Hong Kong
and at which many Filipinos were present
some of these came to me and assured me
that they would accept my advice to keep
calm and patiently await the results of the
Philippine commissioners investigation
Now they say their Influence was powerless
to stay the radical element at Manila and
the restlessness OF their army.