The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-06
TEE FILIPINO REBELLION
Correspondence Relative to 1t
Transmitted to the Senate.
The President Sends n Foluminous
Document in Answer 90 the Honr
ResOlution-The Threatened tPris-
ing mt Manila - communications
From AEuinaldo and His Associates

The President yesterday sent to the
Senate the correspondence relative 10 the
insurrection in the Philippines, which was
called for by resolution introduced
short time ago by Mr.. Hoar. The report
is yoluminous document, and besides
much that has already been made public
contains instructions by the President,
proclamations by the Philippine Commits
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-
stitutions etc, promulgated by Aguinaldo;
copies of the Presidents instructions to
the commissioners to the Philippines. 81 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 resolved "as to aid or encodr-
agement received by Aguinaldo and his
followers from persons in the United
States as to what pamphlets, speeches. or
other documents emanating in the United
States and adverse to its authority and its
policy were circulated in whole or in part
among the FilipiEos in arms against the
United States. among other inhabitants OF
the island, or among the soldiers of the
United States"
Referring to the much-criticised procla-
nation of General Otis, the President says:
mo disapproval of the said proclamation
was ever expressed By my authority. or
that of the War Department. II was, in
fact, approved by me- although no formal
communication to that effect was sent Ia
General Otis"
AS prGof 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 FilIpinos- BY the American People"
1t says that the Philippines are free. and
that the FiiDino 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: y am inclined to think that it
is very possible that the Hongkong 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-
ters were established at Cavite by Cen
eral 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 Filipinos to procure an
acknowledgement of the existence of their
government is shown in letter received |
by General Macarthur. commanding the |
American forces at Angeles. In this let !
ter Ambrosa Flores, signing himself sec |
retary of war, says that his Honorable (
President. General Aguinaldo" wants to I
send a 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 Agulnaldo. 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 confnr- |
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
n.s- tt.O, >
seem to be any necessity for the proposed |
commission. He says further that the |
Commanding General has 10 official infor- |
nation or knowledge from this government |
of the parties styling themselves. or who |
are styled as my honorable President or |
as 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 II was |
net feasible to send the prisoners to the |
American lines. as they were scattered at |
various points in the island. He protested |
against the suspicion as to the character |
of their treatment. saying that we havs |
never resOrted to indirect means in order |
to wrest by artifice the recognition OF our !
beloved independence Then General |
Otis cabled the War Department November |
. as follows:
Spanish commission sent to Tarlac to |
make arrangements for release of Spanish |
prisoners returned few days ago. Agui- |
naldo would not treat with them. as Spain |
had not formally recognized the insurgent |
government. General Macarthur tele-
graphs today that he has just received |
a communication from insurgent Secre- |
tary of War asking that IL I 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 IL inSurEent !
applications not granted insurgent gov
ernment will regard its humane offer |
withdrawn. and remarks that their ma
tional 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 |
will 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 II he would simply send !
them in The insurgents never intended |
to give prisoners up unless they could |
force money payments and recognition in !
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 a |
conference between Secretary Root and |
President Mckinley, as a result of which |
General Otis was cabled by General Corbin !
as follows:
''Your course Regarding prisoners held by |
insurgents is approved. Their location |
should be definitely ascertained and adc-
quate force sent to recover them as soon
as possible. Unless you see strong rea-