The age-herald., 1900-07-23
INDEPENDENCE WAS
 PROMISED THEM
Filipino General Writes to Sena-
 tor Pettigrew.
REPEATS TALK WITH DEWEY
And Says the American Admiral Prom ised the Filipinos Independence, and Offered to Furnish Them
 Arms and Ammunition

Sioux Falls, S. D., July 22.-A letter has been received by Senator R. E. Pettigrew from one of the leading commanders of the Filipino army, giving additional light on the claims of the Filipino people as to the understanding that was arrived at be- tween them and the Americans before the opening of hostilities in the Philippines. The letter says, in part:
 "Sinukwan Eneampment, P. l., April 12, 1900.-Hons. R. E. Pettigrew G. F. Hoar, Senators, Washington: Gentlemen-I have read in some American papers that Admiral Dewey compelled by you and other Sena- tors, lovers of truth and justice, to answer whether he had made the informal promises of independence, stated that he had never promised independence to the Filipinos.' I, who, in the name of the Filipino people and of General Agunaldo, and as repre- sentative of his, have had the honor to confer several times with the Admiral, make to you the first statements that you may use them as you should think them convenient:
 Tn April 1898, when the rupture of hos tilities between America and Spain be- came imminent, and in the absence of my chief, General Aguinaldo. who was then at Singapore I solicited, through the Ameri- can consul at Hong Kong, MT. Wildman, to have some interviews with Admiral Dewey with the object of continuing the interrupted negotiations between General Aguinaldo and Admiral Dewey, through MT. Wood, the commander of the gunboat Petrel. My petition was favorably received and I went with MT. Andres Garchtorena, another Filipino, on board the Olympia, in the bay of Hong Kong harbor.
 "once on board, the following interview in French took place through the flag lieutenant, MT. Brumby, acting as inter- preter:
 ''Filipino - Admiral, 1t having come to our knowledge that war between your country and Spain is imminent, we, who have fought the latter for our indepen- dence, are willing, in obedience to the de- sires manifested by you to General Agui- naldo, through MT. Wood, to take part in the war as allies of America, so long as 1t be carried on with the object of freeing from the yoke of Spain her colonies, giving them their independence.
 Admiral Dewey-The American people,
 
 war with the humanitarian object of free in from the Spanish yoke the peoples un- der it and will give you independence and freedom, as we have proclaimed to the world at large.
 "Filpino-We are very grateful for this generous manifestation of the great Ameri- can people, and being made through an Admiral of their navy, we value it more than a written contract, and thereupon place ourselves at your entire disposal"
 Admiral Dewey-I place at your dis posal the ships of my fleet for the con- veyance of both the Filipino leaders and the arms you may get Moreover, I think my government is willing to supply you with arms and ammunition.
 'F'ilipino-We are very thankful to you for this new generosity of the American people ,and you may be sure that we are ready to fight at your side for the inde- pendence of the Philippines even without arms, as we have done during the recent revolution.
 Admiral Dewey-America is rich in every respect she has territory sparsely inhabited. Besides, our constitution pre- America therefore the Filipinos may be sure of their independence and not bit of their land shall be taken from them.
 After these conclusive and formal state- ments the conversation turned to other de- tails concerning the state of the country"
 The letter is signed "J Alejandrino'
 He is a Filipino General who recently surrendered to the American forces.