The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-10
DEWEY DENIES.
The Admiral Declares He Never
Entered Peace Negotiations
With Aguinaldo.

New York, Feb. 1O.-The Tribune
says:
Il have never by word, act or in
timation, either personally or through
representative, conveyed to Aguinaldo
or any of his associates the assurance
that the United States government
would recognize Filipino independence"
The foregoing statement was made by
Admiral Dewey in the most emphatic
tone last night. This declaration was
brought forth in a discussion concern
ing the repeated assertions that Ad-
miral Dewey while in the Philippines
consulted with Aguinaldo and told him
that the United States government
the Philippines. The statement was
ELECTED principally by an article bear
ing upon this subject which was sent
into the Tribune for publication. The
article was shown to the admiral in
his apartment at the WaldOrf-Astoria
The admiral read the article carefully
The article contains a letter signed by
Howard w. Bray, who is alleged to
have acted as interpreter between Ag-
uinaldo, Consul General Pratt and Ad-
miral Dewey. Mr.. Bray asserts that
AguinaldO had an interview with Uni
ted States Consul General Pratt at
Singapore on April 20, 1898; that the
conditions of AguinaldO's policy We're
clearly stated; that these were sub
mitted to Dewey and that the latter
cabled with all haste to Hong Kong,
and that Dewey brought back Agui-
naldo to Luzon under promise of indie
pendence.
When Admiral Dewey had read the
article he said, impreSsivelY:
u have some reports, documents and
statements before me which l intend,
upon my return to Washington, to sub
init to the senate committee on for
eign relations. 1t is better, however, to
strike this lie as it arises. and / will
answer the charge as it comes. I never
saw this man Bray. I never knew him.
! never heard of him except as a dis
reputable adventurer in the pay of the
Philippine junta- So far as this story
concerns me there is not a word of
truth in it."
Admiral Dewey then took up a report
which he had before him. It was type
written and destined to go to the SEN
ate.
It was made by Lieutenant R. P.
Hall, chief engineer of the Petrol. It
was a VoluminouS document and set
forth in detail all negotiations which
Captain Wood at that time in COM
mand of the Petrol, who acted as Adj
miral Dewey'S representative, had deal
ings with the Philippine junta in Hong
Kong. Lieutenant Hall set forth how
the F'ilipinos through a banker named
Levy, asked for an interview with a
representative of Admiral Dewey. The
INTERVIEW was dIIdnSSu, anu AA1tuLt1A-
ant Hall kept the appointment. In his
report he tells in detail of the meeting;
who attended it and what was said.
The salient point made by Lieutenant
Hall is concerning Aguinaldo's attitude
at that time. This interview was at
Hong Kong, on April 1.
When AguinaldO was asked, so Lieu
tenant Hall, who is now at the Brook
lyn 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 Span
ish government to leave the Philippines;
that he had received a 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 any
part in the probable war between Spain
and the United States.
Il never had any dealings with
Emilio Aguinaldo," continued the adj
miral. You see, I never even called
him general You see now just where
the matter rests. 1 want you to nail
this lie hard. You can say as coming
from me that it is absolutely false,