Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-10
ADMIRAL DEWEY
NAILS THE LIE.
Hero Of Manila Uses Emphatic Ian
guage towards His Traducefs,
NEVER RECOGNIZED REBELS
Had 20 Communicate with AguInaldo
Story of Recognition started by
a Disreputabie Adventurer.

New York, Feb. lO-The Tribune
says: II have never by word. act or
intlmation either personally or through
a representative, conveyed TO Aguinaldo
or any Of his associates the assurance
that the United States government
would recognize Filipino independence"
The foregoing statement was made
by Admiral Dewey in the most EN-
phatic tone last night This declara-
ton was brought forth In a discus
sion concerning the repeated asser-
tions that Admiral Dewey while In the
Philippines consulted with Aguinaldo
and told him that the United States
government would recognize the indie
pendence OF the Philippines. The state
ment was elected principally by an
article bearing upon this subject which
was sent in TO the Tribune for publica-
ton. The article was shown to the
admiral in his apartment at the Wal
dorf- Astoria The admiral read the
article carefully. The article contains
letter signed by Howard W. Bray,
who is alleged to have acted as inter-
prefer between Aguinaldo, Consul Cen
eral Pratt and Admiral Dewey. Mr..
Bray asserts that AguinaldO had an in
terview with United States Consul Cen
eral Pratt at Singapore on April %,
1898 that the conditions Of Agulnaldo' s
policy were clearly stated; that these
were submitted TO Dewey, and that the
latter cabled with all haste TO Hong
kong. and that Dewey brought back
Aguinaldo TO Luzon under promise OF
Independence.
When Admiral Dewey had read the
article he said impressiyely
II have some reports, documents and
statements before me which / intend,
upon my return TO Washington. 20 sub.
NIT to the Senate committee on foreign
relations il is better. however, 20
strike this lie as II arises. and ! will
answer the charge as 1t comes. ! never
saw this man Bray. ! never knew him,
! never heard Of him except as a dis
reputable adyenturer IN the pay Of the
Philippine !unta. SO far as this story
concerns me there Is not a word OF
truth In II"
Admiral Dewey then took up a re-
port which he had before him. II was
typewriter and destined TO go 10 the
Senate. II was made by Lieut. X. y
Han, chief engineer Of the Petrol. II
was a voluminous document and SCI
forth In detail all negotiations with
Capt. Wood, at that time IN command
OF the Petrol. who. acted as Admiral
Dewey's representative has dealings
with the Philippine junta in Hong
kong. Lieut.. Hall set forth how the
Fllipinos. through a banker named
Levy, asked for an interview with a
representative Of Admiral Dewey The
Interview was arranged and Lieut. Hall
Kept the appointment In his report
he tells in detail Of the meeting; who
attended IL and what was said The
salient point made by Lieut.. Hall is
concerning AguinaldO's attitude at that
time. This interview was at Hong
kong on April g. 1895.
When Aguinaldo was asked. so Lieut..
Hall. who is now at the Brooklyn navy
yard. reported, what part he intended
to take in the war which seemed in.
eyitable between Spain and the United
States, he replied that he had made an
agreement with the Spanish govern
ment to leave the Philippines that he
had received a promise Of a sum OF
money for so doing. q part Of which
money had been paid, and he did not
care 10 break his word or take any
part In the probable war between Spain
and the United States.
II never had any dealings with Emilio
AguInaldo." continued the admiral,
"You see, never even called him gen
eral' You see now Just where the mat
ter rests. ! want you to nail this lie
hard. You can say as coming from
me that IL Is absolutely false"