Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-21
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Facts Regarding Outbreak in the
Philippines.
)PIS DID NOT REJECT PEACE OFFERS
Denies That Insurgents Asked for
Armistice.
ADMIRAL DEWEY's ATTITUDE

=
The President today sent to the Senate
response to the resolution asking for a
port as to the alleged negotiations for peace
on February 5, 1899. after the breaking out
of the Filipino revolt. The reply contains
the following CORE spondence by cable:
Adjutant generals office, Washington, D.
c., April So 1900. (Cablegram). To
Otis, Manila.
Gable whether Gen. Torres came to you
under flag of truce February ). 1899, and
stated Aguinaldo declared lighting had be-
gun accidentally and not authorized by him:
that Aguinaldo wished it stopped. and to
end hostiities proposed establishment OF
neutral zone between the two armies of
width agreeable to you so during peace
negotiations there might be no further
danger conflict. Whether you replied fight
ing having begun must go on to grim end.
Reply of Gen. Otis.
The following is Gen. Otis reply:
(Cablegram). Manila. May 1. 1900.
To Adjutant General, Washington.
Judge Torres. citizen resident of Manila.
who had served as member insurgent
commission, reported the evening of
February asking if something could not
ment of neutral zone. l replied that
Aguinaldo had commenced the fighting and
must Apply for cessation l had nothing to
| request from the insurgent government He
asked permission 10 send Col ArguelieZ TO
Malolos, and ArgueleZ was passed through
the lines near Ca.oocan the next morning.
He went direct to Maiolos. told Gems.
Aguinaldo and Nabini that Gen Otis would
permit suspension of hostilities upon their
request. They replied that declaration of
war had been made. a copy of which they
furnished him. They said they had no OBJ
lection to a suspension of hostlitieS, but
beyond this general remark made no re-
sponse. but directed him to return with
| that message. ArgueileZ reported that ne
conveyed my statement; that they had COM
menced the war and it must go since
| they had chosen that course of action, bu,
| he did not attempt to induce them to make
any proposition. as he feared an accusation
of cowardice. The insnrgent chief author
| tiles made proposition and did not IN
tend to make any, nor did they attempt to
| do so until driven out of Malo.os. My hasty
| dispa tch of about that date was misleading.
| Took in writing the statement OF ArSueiieZ
several days ago in order to fully under
stand the temper of the insurgents at an
early period of the war. VI 10.
Situation Left to Otis.
There were a great many questions asked
| in the resolution. which adopted on
| April IS. In his reply the President states
Gen. Otis was not directed by the Secre-
tary of War to make such an answer as is
set forth in the resolution. nor were any
answers to communications upon the sub
iect of the cessation of hostilities pre-
scribed by the Secretary of War to Gen.
Otis: but he was left to exercise, in respect
thereof. his own judgment. based upon his
superior knowledge of the conditions sur
rounding the troops under his command
also transmit a copy of a cable dispatch
from Gen Otis. sent from Manila Febru-
airy s. 1899, received in Washington Febru-
airy .. 1899 being the same dispatch to
which he refers in his reply of May l, 1900
as misleading. So far as l am informed,
Gen. Otis did not afterward reply except as
set forth in his said dispatch of May l.
1900. He not directed by the Secretary
| of War to reply. and no answer was made
| by him to the Secretary of War to an ap-
| plication to cease fighting. There appears
| to have been no such application.
Dewey and the Filipinos.
In the correspondence transmitted are
letters from the Secretary of the Navy to
Admiral Dewey. and his reply as to whether
the flag of the Filipino republic was ever
saluted by the admiral The admirais re-
ply is as follows:
Office of the Admiral. 1747 Rhode Island
Avenue, Washington. May II, 1900
Sir:
l. Replying to the departments letter of
| the 14th instant ! have the honor to in
| form you that the flag of the so-called Phil
| lpplne TepuDllC WIS never ny HE VI
| by any of the vessels of the squadron under
my command.
| 2. Isla Grande. Subic bay. was captured
| by the Raleigh and Concord under my
| ders as reported in my telegram of July 10.
1898. There was assistance to
opera ton with Aguinaldo's forces.
3. The vessels named captured the Span
ish garrison of said island without assist
| ance from any one, indicated in the
| above mentioned dispatch.
4. The said garrison was turned over to
| the Filipinos for safekeeping shown in
| the report made by Capt. ]. B. Coughlan,
| United States navy. file in the depart
| ment. The prisoners had refused to give
| parole. and there were no facilities at my
| command for their care. Aguinaldo had
promised that they should be treated HUI
| namely and according to the laws of war
| l have the honor to be, sir, very respect
| fully.
(SigneO GEORGE DEWEY,
Admiral, United States Navy.
| To the Secretary of the Navy.
Gen. Otis Dispatches.
| The dispatch of Gen. Otis of February
| 8. 1899 referred to in the Presidents letter,
and which Otis said was misleading" con-
tanned the following: might of 4th Aguin-
aldo issued a flying proclamation charging
| the Americans with the initiative. and de-
| clared war. Sunday he issued another call
| ing all to resist foreign invasion. His in
| fiuence throughout this section Is destroyed
| Now applies for cessation Of hostilities and
conference. Have declined to answer"
|
NOT ON THE OLD SITE.