Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-06-01

| WASHINGTON, June 1.-The secretary
of war made public the report Of Gen
eral Otis, mailed from Manila, trans
mitting the reports Cd his subordinata
officers on the operations around Ma-
Mia up to April 6. General Otis begins
with this statement:
"These military opera tions are fairly
well presented in the reports, and l have
little to add thereto, but desire particu-
larry to call attention to the rise and de.
velopment Of conditions and circqm-
stances which resulted finally i'll war.
| This / deem to be essential i'll order to
| correct the somewhat prevailing impress
sion that the government of the United
States is responsible through deceit or
wrongful action for the present existing
hostilities.
General Otis told of the landing of
Aguinaldo from an American vessel
and of the insurgents taking advantage
of the active hostilities between the
United States and Spain to capture
southern points and increase their
strength. Independence, General Otis
said, was proclaimed by Aguinaldo
in August, and as early as June, he
had warned the United States authori-
ties against the landing of its military
forces on Philippine soil without first
obtaining his consent, because, as he
expressed it, 1.-The Philippine people
might consider the occupation of Phil
ippine territory by North American
troops violation of their rights.
To this end he gave short summary
of the Philippine insurrection against
Spain, laying stress ON the fact that a
small band of the natives of Luzon,
leaders of the rebellion of '96 against
Spain. We're induced for monetary con-
sideration to leave the island. These
men returned to the vicinity of Manila
after the destruction of the Spanish
fleet there, being, us General Otis says,
encouraged without authority to at
tempt the organization of what they
were pleased, to denonlinate an indie
pendent government for the Filipino
people.
General Otis added: "When the
United States forces landed from their
transports nearest and to the south of
Manila for the purpose of attacking the
city the fiction that they were acting as
allies of the insurgents and i'll further
ance of Philippine independence ap-
pears to have been conveyed by insur
gent leaders"
General Otis described Aguinaldo's
efforts to strengthen his lines in prepa-
ration for hostllities with the United
States during this time, and explained
the growth of the insurgent independ-
ent movement by stating that in the alb
sence of Spanish authority many able
and conservative Filipinos gave adher-
ence to this seemingly de facto govern
ment. Many of these withdrew their
adherence when the radical ele-
ment declared its hostility to the United
States.
Describing briefly the tension that ex-
istei at the time, General Otis included
in explanation of his course some highly |
important correspondence that passed |
between himself and Aguinaldo.
Early III january. when General Otis |
was asked by conservative Filipinos to |
appoint Il committee of army officers to |
meet an insurgent committee and ef-
feet a compromise by which peace
might be obtained, General Otis re fused |
to recognize an insurgent government,
but was willing to negotiate with Agui-
naldo OF u commission appoi nted by
him.
Aguinaldo's response and General
OTIS reply were set out i'll the follow.
ing extract from the report:
''MALoLOS, Jan. 8.
Major General E. 5. Otis, General of tn.
American Forces of Occupation in Manila:
"GENERAL-I have been informed,
after the interview between the com
missioners of my government and Mr.
Carman. that there will be no incon.
venience ON your part, in naming, as
commanding general, representatives
that will confer with those whom I will
name for the same object.
although it not being explained to
me the reason why you could not treat
with the commissioners of my govern
ment, have the facEty of doing the
same with those of the commanding
general who cannot be recognized ,.
Nevertheless for the sake of peace I
have considered it advisable to name as
commanding general commission
of the following gentlemen:
Florentine Flores, Ambrosia Flores and
Arguieles, that they may to-
gether represent me and arrive at an
accord, with those who you may name,
with the object of using such methods
as Will normalize the actual situation
created by the attitude of your govern
ment and troops.
eff you will deign to attend to said
and through these meth
DDS come to some understanding, if
only temporary that will insure the
peace and harmony amongst ourselves,
the Filipino public would reach CRATE
ful glory.
81 am yours, general, with the high
est consideration, your most respectful
servant. EMILIO AGUINALDO."
General Otis reply was dated Jan. o,
md was i'll part as follows:
''In my official capacity am merely
lhe agent of the United States govern
nent, to conduct its affairs under the
limits of its constitution and laws and
cannot recognize any national or civil
power not already formally recognized
1y my government, unless especially
to do so by the instructions
If the executive of the United States.
For this reason 1 am unable to receive
Representatives of the revo-
utionary government, and endeayored
% make. that inability clear to the dis
inguished gentlemen with whom l had
he pleasure to converse a few evenings
'ince.
1.-THE Filipines appear to be Of the