Evening star., 1901-04-23
INTERVIEW WITH AGUINALDo.

Captured InsurGent Leader Discusses
Future of the Philippines.
A dispatch from Manila yesterday says:
A representative of the Associated Press
visited Emilio Aguinado this afternoon at
| 5G Solano street, whittier he was removed
| from the Mala and found him In a
large room upstairs, furnished with a table
typewriting machine. three settees and
twenty chairs. His wife, who was enter
tanning number of Filipino women friends.
sat at one end of the room while Aguinaldo
smoking a cigar and chatting with Benito
Legardo, occupied the opposite corner
Others present We're Lieut.. Col John s.
Mallory of the 41st Volunteer Infantry. who
has charge of Aguinaldo; Lieut. Gilbert A.
1oungberg of the 3d Artillery and Mr.
Fisher Gen. MacArthur's private secretary
Aguinaldo. whose bearing was courteous
and dignified, was dressed in white and
looked well, and altogether. made an ev-
Ccllent impression.
LeGardo who but recently returned from
the United States, was telling him about
the trip, and he seemed intensely interest
ed smiling frequently and asking numer-
GUS questions. He inquired particularly as
to what President Mckinley said and
seemed anxious to know what was thought
of him in the United States. He was
rather reluctant to talk for publication.
and considered every question carefully be-
fore answering. He said he was doing all
he could to assist in the pacification of the
Philippines and expressed himself as sur
prised at what the Americans had accom-
plished.
When he was first captured, he went on
to say, he was greatly astoniShed to find
that a majority of the Filipinos entertained
the opinion that American sovereignty was
preferable to independence. but now he was
inclined to believe that way himself. He
explained that since the dissolution of the
insurgent congress and the declaration of
of bod toI
to all intents and purposes independent
ly. They recognized him as commander
in-chief, sending him reports occaSionally
and he issued some orders but for the
last seven months communication had been
difficult and he had been almost discon-
nected.
Il am now urging in the strongest possi-
BILE manner" said Aguinaldo that all in
surgents should surrender and swear al
legiance to the United States'
He expressed the opinion that Tinio,
Luoban, Malvar and other representative
insurgents will surrender as, soon as they
come to understand the nature of the am
nesty offered them He said he hoped
that when the work of pacification was
complete and conditions Were settled the
prisoners in Guam would be released.
After referring in grateful terms to the
courteous treatment accorded him by the
military authorities, he declared his con-
would follow pacification would realize the
highest hopes of the Filipino people.
When questioned regarding the report
that he would visit the United States, he
replied that he would like to do so. but
had made no plans as yet. placing himself
entirely at the disposition of the United
States government. In concluding the in
terview he observed:
every word in my address to my coun-
trymen the Ftiipinos, came from my heart.
I hope the Americans believe me thorough
ly sincere in my efforts to secure peace
and. under American auspices to promote
the welfare and prosperity of the Philip
pineS,"