The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-11-18

Thej were treated With courtesy and
respect. and we're saluted by Filipino
sentinels. In September Aguinaldo
sent an ofiicsr 20 General Otis 10 warn
him that there was In Manila a F'ilipi-
nc Iamed Blanco. an officer who had
remained loyal 10 Spain. and who had
two or three hundred OF hia former
command. all natives. In town also.
"Hc intends. raid Agulnaldos repre-.
sentative, TO attack you some night
He and his men are all F'ilipnos. and
YOU might think that Il was We who
were attacking you, and II might
make trouble between u.s. General
Aguinado wHnted you TO know this. 50
that YOU could look out for this man
Banco.
There was considerable correspon-
denee between our governor general
and Agulnaldo ON the subject of the
withdrawal Of the Filipino lines. which
werc Gloss around the city. The water
supply which had been cut on by the
insurgents during the seige, was turn
cd on again at our request. Aguinal-
do did not at this time make IA claim
OF independence In his letters TO the
American commander He professed
himself as wiling to agree 70 our de-
mand 10 withdraw his lines, provided
he could give reasonable excuse
therefore to his followers. who had
held out TO them as an incentive the
prospect OF loot In Manila when cap.
tured. lie was also particularly anx-
ious TO know IN what position he would
be- left by us provided the Philippines,
by the treaty OF peace. should revert
10 Spain. In that case he wanted tol
hold all the ground gained. and b. inI
an advantageous position TO continue
his fight against the spaniards. Not
knowing what the terms OF the treaty
were to be- no answer could. Of course,
be given him. Perhaps he was In
credulous and thought we were
evaslye Perhaps he made up his
mind to keep up the struggle for
independence against any sovereignty.
and merely delayed hostillties againstf
us until he should be sure that our
stay would not be temporary, our
long lnnction. controlled as we were by
considerations arising
from the delay In agreeing on a treaty.
was probably misunderstood and at
trlbuted TO any but the proper cause.
on the 9th OF January. 1899, General
otis appointed commission Of three
officers 60 meet commission Of like
number appointed by General Asuin-
aldo, and 10 confer with regard TO the
situation OF Affairs and TO arrive at a
mutual understanding Of the intent.
purposes, aim and desires Of the Phil
Ippine people and the people OF the
United states that peace and har-
relations between these re-
spective peoples be continued"
The officers appointed by General Otis
Were General r. p. Hughes, provost
marshal OF Manila; Colonel James +.
smith, First California Volunteers,
md Lieutenant Colonel +. II, Crow
ier judge advocate, Eighth army
,orps, II was a very able, level-head-
ID, fair-minded commission, All ITS
members are personally known TO the
writer. These officers met the repre-
'entatlves OF Agulnaldo. The Joint
sessions were frequent but nothing
Nas accomplished.
The Filipino representatives at first
seemed 20 have no clear idea as to
what they wanted. Finally they said
hey wanted absolute independence
and and the retention of our fleet to