The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-06
COMMUNICATIONS ON
PHILIPPINE AFFAIRS
Says He Approved of General
Otis Proclamation.
the Commanding General
Was Never Formally Notified to
That NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. That
Were Transmitted to General Otis
Are NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Told
That the Americans Came as Lib
orators Rather Than Conquerors.

w aSnlngIon, March 5.-The president
sent to the senate today the corre-
spondence called for by the resolution
OF Senator Hoar asking for information
relative to our course in the Philip
| pines.
IL is very voluminOus record, con-
! tanning much that has already been
made public, and contains instructions
] by the president, proclamations by the
Philippine commission and General
Otis. reports of officers in the Philip
pines, all communications received
| from AguinaldO or his assistants or
proclamations issued by them, infor-
nation concerning the treatment of
prisoners or other inhabitants of the
Island by the insurgents, and also such
Information as has been received "as to
aid or encouragement received by
ASulnaldo and his followers from per-
sons in the United States, as to what
1 pamphlets, speeches or other dOcu-
ments emanating in the United States
and adverse to its authority were cir
culated IN whole or in part among the
| fluplnOS IN arms against the United
States among other inhabitants of the
Islands, or among the soldiers of the
/ United States"
referring TO General OTIS proclama-
uOn, the president says: mo disap-
! proval Of the said proclamation was
expressed by my authority or of the
war department 1t was, in fact, ap-
proved by me, although no formal ccm-
nunicauon to that effect was sent to
General Otis"
Suspiciousness of Americans.
Included in the correspondence of last
| october between General Macarthur
and ASuinaldo's representative. Cen
eraI Abrosio Flores, in regard TO the
delivery of sick Spanish prisoners, is a
protest against what he terms the
'suspiciousness of the Americans" He
! says:
The treatment awarded. necessarily
! corresponds with our political condi-
ton" adding that lin the name of a
soldierly honor, protest against such
| suspicion, as we have never resorted
to indirect means in order to wrest by
| artltlce the recognition OF our beloved
independence"
In this connection cablegram from
| General COrbin is given, dated Nov. 10.
endorsing General Otis course i'm the
MATTER of Spanish prisoners. He says:
The letters of the insurgents imply
q threat. Unless you see strong reason
to the contrary, notify Aguinaldo that
he and his advisers will be held per
sonally responsible for any injury done
TO Spanish or American prisoners in
violation of the laws and the usages
OF war among civilized nations"
Otis Instructions Withheld.
The Instructions to General Merritt
are ira a mitted, but not those to Gen
eral Otis, which, the report says, were
given in cipher. The instructions from
the president to General Merritt, MAY
%, 1898. direct the issuance of a procla-
nation saying that We come not to
make war upon tie people of the Phil
ippines, nor upon my party or faction
! among them, but to protect them in
their homes, in their employments and
in their personal and religious rights
All persons who, either by active aid
or by honest administration cooperate
with the United States in its efforts to
give effect 10 this benefcient purpose
will receive the reward of its support
and protection. Our occupation should
be as free from severity as possible
The presidents instructions to the
Philippine commission of Jan. 90 1899
are given in full. The president wrote:
''The commission may render valu-
able services by examining with spe-
cial care the legislative needs of the
various groups of inhabitants, and by
representing with recommendation
the measures which should be insti-
tuted for the maintenance of order
peace and public welfare.
1T is my desire that in all the rela-
tons with the inhabitants of the Phil
ippine islands the commissioners exer-
else due respect for all the ideals, Gus
| toms and institutions of the tribes anC
races which compose the population
emphasizing on an occasions the JUS
and beneficial intentions of the govern
ment of the United States.
Come As Liberators..
TT is also my wish and expectation
that the commissioners may be re
ceived in a manner due to the honoreC
and authorized representatives of the
American republic, duly commissioned
on account of their knowledge, skill
and integrity, as bearers of the good
will, the protection and the blessing:
of liberating rather than a conquer
ing nation"
The record shows that on the 4th OF
J May, 1899. President Schurman of tn,
commission notified Secretary Hay o.
a cessation of hostilities in order TO ge
vote from the insurgent congress il
, favor of autonomy. TO which Secretary
Hay replied as follows:
You are authorized to propose tina
under the military power of the presi
dent, pending the action Of congress
government of the Philippines shall
consist of a governor general, appointed
by the president; a cabinet, appointed
by the governor general; a general ad
viscry council, elected by the people
the qualifications of electors to be care
full ? considered and determined, anC