Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-23
A;uIHALn0 INTERVIEWED.
Inclined 10 Believe American soyere;on,v a..
Than Filipino Independence

Manila. April ga repre.o,.s
The Associated Press visited ~, VI
FAguinaldO. this afternoon AZ r. e.',
street. whittier he was removed r'
the Maiacan. and found him IN 'o"'
room up stairs furnished with a ." az
n typewritins machine. three settec.
and 20 chairs. His wife. who was entacS
tanning number Of Filipino wo,no,
friends. sat at one end of the rnn,,
while Aguinaldo. smoking ciy,r a.';
chatting with Bcnito Legardo nno,," ",.
the opposite corner. The others n,.a., 49,
were Lieut.. Col. John s. Ma,,ar,. -
the 4lst Vol. Inf. who has cb,rg. -,
Aguinaldo, Lieut.. Gilbert A yn.,,,,.
borg Of the Cd Artillery. and Mr. E.;.t'
cr. Gen. MacArthur's private .ecro...
Aguinaldo. whose bearing was cour'
teOus and dignified, was dressod +,
white. looked well, and ,ltoco,i
mace an excellent impression. I.epa,,,,
who has recently returned from ~
United States. was telling him aho,,,
the trip. He seemed intensely intc,o..
cd. smiling frequently and askinr mn,
mcrous questions. He inquired partic-
ularly rs to what President Mckinley
said and seemed anxious to know VIII,
was thought of him in the United
States.
He was rather reluctant to talk for
publication and considered every cues
Iticn before answering. He said he was
doing all he could to assist I'm the pac
iication of the Philippines and express
ed himself as surprised at what the
Americans had accomplished. When ne
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 insurgcnt CON
.,rcss and the declaration of guerilla
warfare, the chiefs had operated to al
intcnts and purposes independently.
They recognized him as commander
in-chicf sending him reports occasion
ally, and he issued orders, but for the
last scvcn months communication had
been difficult and he had been almost
disconnected.
Il am now urging in the strongest
possible manner" said Aguinaldo.' that
all insurgents should surrender ana
swear allegiance to the United States.
He expresses the opinion that Tinto.
Lucaban. Malvar and other representa-
tive insurgents will surrender as soon
as they come to understand the ma
turc of the amnesty offered them. He
said ne hoped that when the work of
pacification was completed and conai-
lions were settled the prisoners in
Guam would be released.
After referring in grateful terms IL
the courteous treatment accorded him
by the military authorities. he dcclar-
ed his conviction that the civil govern
mcnt which would follow paCiiiCatiol
would realize the highest hopes of the
Filipino people.
When questioned regarding the re-
mort that he would visit the United
states. he replied that he would like 10
do so. but hal made no plans as yet.
placing himself entirely at the DISPOSE
ton of the United States government.
In concluding the interview he oh
served Every word in my address 20
my countrymen. the Filipinos. came
from my heart. I hope the Americans
believe me thoroughly sincere in my
efforts to secure peace and under
American auspices to promote the wei
fare and prosperity OF the Filipinos.