The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-06
THE FILIPINO rebellion
Correspondence Relative to 1t
Transmitted to the Senate.
The President Sends VoluminOus
Document in Answer 20 the Honr
Eng Mt Manila - Communications
From AEuinaIdo and His Associates

The President yesterday sent 10 tne
| Senate the correspondence relative 10 the
! insurrection in the Philippines, which was
! called for by a resolution introduced a
/ short time ago by Mr.. Hoar. The report
| is a volumncus document, and besides
| much that has already been made public
contains instructions by the President,
proclamations by the Philippine Commis-
sion. and by General Otis, and reports of
officers of the Army and Navy in the
| Philippines.
The Presidents letter of transmittal re-
cites Mr.. Hoar's resolution in detail, and
specifies the various communications ac-
companying the letter. These are grouped
under eight separate heads. and include
all communications from Aguinaldo or his
associates addressed to the President or
to any executive officer of the Government
instructions relating to a proclamation
sent to General Otis and the generals
proclamation. copies Of translations Of con-
sttutions. etc. promulgated by Aguinaldo;
copies of the Presidents instructions to
the commissioners to the Philippines. ST ch
information as has been received relating
TO uprisings Of the FilipinOs. information
concerning the treatment of prisoners or
other inhabitants of the island by the in
surgents and also such information as
has been received ''as to aid or encour-
sgement received by Aguinaldo and his
followers from persons in the United
States, as to what pamphlets, speeches. or
other Comments emanating in the United
States and adverse to its authority and its
policy were circulated in whole or in part
among the Filipiros in arms against the
United States. among other Inhabitants Of
the island or among the soldiers of the
United States"
Referring to the much-eTiticised procla-
nation of General Otis, the President says:
NO dsapproval Of the said proclamation
was ever expressed BY my authority, or
that of the War Department It was, in
fact, approved by me. although no formal
communication to that effect was sent Is
General Otis"
AS proof that insurgents received moral
support from persons in the United States,
there is sent in the message a copy of a
letter from General Wheeler to General
Otis, enclosing a paper which he says
came through the mails The paper is
headed. Emancipation Proclamation to
the Fil1pinos. BY the American People"
II says that the Philippines are free. and
that the Filipino war was inaugurated
unconstitutionally. II concludes when
this paper is filled with signatures return
to Morrison l. Swift. Los Angeles. Cal.
Secretary Of the Filipino Liberation So
ciety.'
Commenting on it. General Wheeler re-
marked: 4 am inclined to think that it
is very possible that the Hongkoug junta
has something to do with these treason
able documents which were sent to the
army"
The correspondence with Aguinaldo be-
gins July 4. 1898. shortly after headquar
Jers were established at Cavite by Cen
eraI Anderson. Those up to September
last have already been published in the
reports Of General Otis. General Miles, and
the Philippine Commission.
An effort Of the Filipiuos to procure an
acknowledgement OF the existence Of their
government is shown in a letter received
by General Macarthur commanding the
American forces at Angeles. In this let
ter Ambrosia Flores, signing himself sec
retary Of war, says that his Honorable
President. General Aguinaldo" wants to
send military commission TO see General
Otis about arranging for the delivery Of
sick Spanish civil and military prisoners,
This General Macarthur communicated to
General Otis, who replied that he was not
able to recognize any commission from
General Aguinaldo. unless accredited by
him solely in his character Of general in
chief Of the insurgent forces
Flores then sent more detailed letter.
in which he referred specifically to the
government Of the Philippine republic. In |
reply General Otis said to General Mac
Arthur:
with these prisoners or the armed
forces by whom they are held in confine-
ment the United States has no official re-
lationship, but. moved by the dictates Of
humanity, would be glad to have them sent
to our military lines, where they Will be
Hospitality received"
General Otis adds that there does not
seem to be any necessity for the proposed /
commission. He says further that the /
Commanding General has no official infor- |
nation or knowledge from this government |
OF the parties styling themselves. or who /
are styled as my honorable President or |
IS the General Secretary OF War and !
hence is debarred from making official rec. |
ognition Of their communications. On &C. /
tober 2S. 1899, Flores wrote that it was |
not feasible to send the prisoners to the I
American lines as they were scattered at I
various points in the island. He protested /
against the suspicion as 10 the character l
OF their treatment saying that we hays |
never resorted 10 indirect means in order /
to wrest by artiice the recognition OF our !
beloved independence Then General |
Otis cabled the War Department November !
8 as follows,
make arrangements for release Of Spanish |
prisoners returned a few days ago. Agui- !
naldo would not treat with them, as Spain !
had not formally recognized the insurgent /
government. General Macarthur teie- |
graphs today that he has just received |
a communication from insurgent SeCre- !
tary OF War asking that II am powerless /
to formally receive Spanish prisoners from /
insurgent government | cable Washing !
ton for permission to do so in the interest !
OF humanity. Letter states II insurEent I
applications not granted insurgent gov /
ernment viii regard its humane offer
Withdrawn. and remarks that their ma
tionM pride imposes duty Of not deliver
ing prisoners except TO a nation; that /
Spain cannot receive them. because OTIS /
opposes and Otis does not desire to receive ]
them. Communication concludes by stat
ing that in view OF difficulties this affair
viii have TO be completely terminated TO +
the prejudice OF the unfortunate prisoners.
Il have informed Aguinaldo that we |
would be glad to receive and take care Of /
all prisoners n he would simply send /
them in. The insurgents never intended /
to give prisoners up unless they could /
force money payments and recognition in I
exchange. They have not brought them
in from the mountains. Aguinaldo now /
reported to be in full retreat for Bayom- /
bong: his government believed to be much /
scattered"
The above despatch was the subject Of |
conference between Secretary Root and /
President Mckinley as a result Of which /
General Otis was cabled by General Corbiu /
as follows:
your course Regarding prisoners held by |
insurgents is approved. Their location !
should be definitely ascertained and ade-
quate force sent to recover them as soon