Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-07-27
PROMISE OF DEWEY.
Filipino General Says It Was for Inde-
pendence.

Sioux Falls, S. d., July 25.-A let.
ter has been received by Senator K. F.
Pettigrew from one of the leading COM
manders of the Filipino army, giving
additional light on the claims of the
Filipino people as to the understanding
that was arrived at between them and
the Americans before the opening of
hostilities in the Philippines. The let
ter says, in part:
"Sinukwan Encampment. Philippine
Islands. April IL, 1900.-Hons. r. F.
Pettigrew and 6. F. Hoar, Senators.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.: have read
in some American papers that Admiral
Dewey. compelled by you and other
senators, lovers of truth and justice, to
answer whether he made to US formal
promises OF independence, stated that
he had never promised independence
to the Filipinos.' /, who, in the name
of the Filipino people, and of General
Aguinaldo, and as representative of
both, have had the honor to confer sew
eral times with the admiral, make to
you the following statements, that you
may use them as you think convenient:
'In April, 1898, when the rupture of
hostilit1es between America and Spain
became imminent, and in the absence
of my chief, General Aguinaldo, who
was then at Singapore. solicited,
through the American consul at Hong
Kong, Mr.. Wildman, to have some in
terviews with Admiral Dewey, with
the object of continuing the interrupted
negotiations between General Aguinaldo
and Admiral Dewey, through Mr..
Wood. the commander of the American
gunboat Petrol. My petition was fav-
orably received, and | went with Mr..
Andrew Garchitorena, another Filipino.
on board the Olympia, in the bay of
Hong Kong.
"Once on board, the following inter-
view, in French, took place through the
flag interpreter:
''Filipino-Admiral, it having come
to our knowledge that war between
your country and Spain is imminent, we,
who have fought the latter for our in
to the desires manifested by you to
General Aguinaldo, Though Mr.. Wood,
to take part in the war as allies of
America, SO long as it be carried on
with the object of freeing from the
yoke of Spain her colonies, giving them
their independence.
admiral Dewey-The American
people, champions of liberty, will
undertake this war with the humani-
tartan object of freeing from the Span
ish yoke the peoples under it, and we
will give you independence and free
dom, as we have proclaimed to the
world at large.
'Filipino-We are very grateful for
this generous manifestation of the great
American people, and being made
through an adm iral of their navy, we
value it more than written contract
and therefore place ourselves at your
entire disposal.
, admiral Dewey-I place at your
disposal the ships of my fleet for the
conveyance of both the Filipino leaders
and the arms you may get. Moreover.
l think my government is willing to
supply you with arms and ammunition.
''Filipino-We are very thankful to
you for this new generosity of the Amer
ican people, and you may be sure that we
are ready to fight at your side fo1 the
independence of the Philippines, even
without arms, as we have done during
the recent revolution.
''Admiral Dewey-America is rich
in every respect; she has territories
sparsely inhabited. Besides, our con-
stitution prevents territorial expan-
SION outside of America; therefore.
the Filipinos may be sure of their inde-
pendence, ani not bit of their land
shall be taken from them.
CATER these conclusive and formal
statements, the conversation turned to
other details concerning the state of
the country"
The letter is signed "K. Alex
andrino.' He is a Filipino general
who recently surrendered to the
Ar erican forces.