The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-06-24

mlral replied that the greater part Ol
the credit was due to his sailors. whC
had behaved so gallantly, and to his
officers who had seconded him 81
well
go And now Admiral, said, what
do you think Of the situation
In the first place, he answered, O.
have great hopes in the success Of the
conferences which Mr. Schurman ha.
nearly every day with the Filipino del
egates And, in any case, Aguinaldc
will be obliged to submit sooner OF
later He has around him too many
generals and too few soldiers to resist
US.
But, | replied, should it not be
recognized that the insurgents fight ad
mirably:
Certainly yes. answered the Ad-
miral, and | render them full justice
on that point They fight well. but
they are children. incapable Of military
tactics
80 At the same time, suggested, 1
think you ought TO recognize that on
land they conducted the campaign
against the Spaniards very WE'LL"
"'Ihat is true, said the Admiral
But since you have touched on the sub
ject, shall be obliged to you II you
repeat the following statement in
France Aguinaldo, during the war
with Spain, was not our ally, as has
been claimed. We never made a treaty
Of alliance with him, and we never
promised him anything We had a
common enemy. He acted on his side
and we on ours There has been no
other understanding.
INTERVIEW WITH FILIPINO.
"As was not willing to take too
much Of the Admira's time, | retired,
having duly noted this categorical
declaration Then, having thus been
enlightened upon the sentiments Of the
high personages on the American side,
it remained to me to ascertain the views
Of the Filipino leaders. One evening
visited Florentino Torres, President
Of the Philippine Committee, Of Manila.
Torres was magistrate under Spanish
rule. and is a very intelligent man. He
said;
THE position Of the Philippine COM
mittee is a very difficult one. We are
doing what we can to bring about
pacification, but when we shall have
found a solution of the question with
Mr. Schurmann it will be necessary to
cause Aguinaldo to accept it, and there
will be a great difficulty.
why do you fear the opposition OF
Aguinaldo? Is he an ambitious man =
' No, but he has illusions. He hopes
for the Intervention Of the great Euro
peau powers, as in Crete. and he even
counts on the cooperation Of Japan.
Aud you, sir, for what do you
hope"
q" Oh. as for myself, | hope the war
will soon be finished, for it is running
us. We. landed proprietors, would ac-
cept a government similar to that Of
Canada. We in no way wish for the
departure of the Americans, for in that
case our fortunes would be swept away
." Why So 1 asked with astonish-
ment
- Because, assure you, it is not
only a question Of Aguinaldo and his
troops. of a nationalist m ovement, but
above all of socialist and revolutionary
movement. created by the insurrection
The lower class of people and many OF
the chiefs are military socialists.
AGAINST THE CAPITALISTS.
&" 1 will cite, for example. Luna
who for long time frequented the
socialists clubs of Europe; Santiko,
who at one time had influence among
certain socialist committees of America
and the poet, Palermo, who is an en-
thusiastic socialist Also. rest well
assured the movement is directed much
more against the capitalists, to what
ever nation they belong, than against
the Americans. Regarding the declara-
tions of Torres, there are two impor-
tant observations which | ask permits.
sion to present Immediately. The first
is that, as a matter of fact, the Philip
pine committee with which Mr.. Schur-
man is treating. has nc real authority
and is in no way an emanation from
the rebels as q whole. The result is,
as have already said, that Mr.. Schur-
man, in spite of his good will seems
powerless to obtain serious results
We're he to find a resolution Of the sit.
uation with the Philippine committee
it would afterwsrd be necessary to have
it accepted by Aguinaldo and his troops
and everything would have to be done
over again. The second observation is
the Importance which should be at
tached to this entry upon the stage Of
socialism in the Philippines. 1t ex-
plains the dissensions which exist
among the Filipinos. and naturally
will result in the Americans finding,
before the conclusions of peace, serious
support among the better Glasses.
II afterward had interviews success
sively with several influential Filipinos
notably with Gregorio Araneto. the
First Minister of Justice of the govern
ment Of Aguinaldo. They all confirm
the statements of Torres. Araneto,
much moro than Torres, showed him
self irritated at the policy of the United
States toward the Filipinos.
NOT RECOGNIZED AT PARIS.