Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-10
DEWEY
NEVER RECOGNIZED
THE FlLlPlN0S.

New York, Feb. 1O.-The Tribune says:
II have never by word. act or intima-
ton, either personally or through a rep
resentative, conveyed to Aguinaldo or
any of his associates the assurance that
the United States government would rec
ognize Filipino independence"
The foregoing statement was made by
Admiral Dewey a=in the most emphatic
tone last night. This declaration was
brought forth in a discussion concerning
the repeated assertions that Admiral
Dewey while in the Philippines consult
ed with Aguinaldo and told him that the
United States government would recog-
nize the independence of the Philippines.
The statement was elected principally
by an article bearing upon this subject
which was sent in to the Tribune for
publication. The article was shown to
the admiral in his apartments at the
Waldorf Astoria. The admiral read the
article carefully. The article contains a
letter signed by Howard W. Bray, who
between Aguinaldo, Consul General
Pratt and Admiral Dewey.
Mr.. Bray asserts that Aguinaldo had
an interview with United States Consul
General Pratt at Singapore on April 26,
1898; that the conditions of Aguinaldo's 8
policy We're clearly stated; that these
were submitted TO Dewey and that the
latter cabled with all haste to Hong
Kong and that Dewey brought back
Aguinaldo to Luzon under promise OF in
dependence.
When Admiral Dewey had read the
article he said inpressively:
II have some reports, documents and
statements before me which I intend.
init to the senate committee on foreign
relations. It II better, however, to
strike that lie as it arises, and I will an
swer the charge as it comes. I never
saw this man Bray. I never knew him.
never heard of him except as a disrep-
utable adventurer in the pay of the Fill
pino junta. So far as this story con-
Germs me there is not word of truth
in it,
Admiral Dewey then took up a report
which he had before him. 1t was type-
written and destined to go to the sem
ate. 1t was made by Lieutenant r. p.
Hall, chief engineer of the Petrel It
was a voluminous document, and set
forth in detail all negotiations which
Captain Wood, at that time in command
of the Petrol, who acted as Admiral
Dewey's representative, had dealings
with the Philippine junta in Hong Kong.
Lieutenant Hall set forth how the Fill
pinos, through a banker named Levy.
asked for an interview with a represent
ative of Admiral Dewey. The interview
was arranged and Lieutenant Hall kent
the appointment. In his report he tells
In detail of the meeting, who attended il
and what was said. The salient noint
made by Lieutenant Hall is concerning
Aguinaldo's attitude at that time, This
interview was at Hong Kong ON April &.
1898.
when Aguinaldo was asked" so
Lieutenant Hall. who is now at the
Brooklyn navy yard, reported, .what
part he intended to take in the war
which seemed inevitable between Spain
and the United States, he replied that he
had made an agreement with the Snan.
tsh government to leave the PHILIPPINES.
that he had received promise of a sum
OF money for so doing, a part of which
money had been paid. and he did not
care to break his word or take anv art
IN the probable war between Spain ana
the United States.
II never had any dealings with nn,,,,o
continued the Admire,
you see, never called him general !
You see now just where the matter
rests. I want you to nail this lie hard
You can say. as coming from me. that
1t is absolutely false"