New-York tribune., 1902-06-27
NO PROMISES BY DEWEY.
i ADMIRAL TELLS or DEAL
IVGS WITH 4GUTNALDO.
GAVE No ASSURANCES OF INDEPEND-
ENCE AND NEVER RECOGNIZED
FILIPINO GOVERNMENT

feQ DeIOrS ITe senate committee on the Phlllp
pines to-day concerning the early operations a
Manila. when he was in command OF the Amer
lean naval forces in Philippine waters. The Ad
niraIs testimony gave important addition
20 the history OF the surrender Of Manila. He
made a positive statement that the city had
been surrendered to him az the time the Span
ish feet was sunk. and that the surrender of il
was II pursuance Of definite understanding
between himself and the Spanish Governor Gen
eral.
The admiral in reply 10 questions by Senator
Lodge. said he had first heard from Aguinaldo
and his friends about April 1. 1895, month be
fore the battle in Manila Bay, when il became
certain that there was to he war. Il then heard
that there were number OF Filipinos who de-
sired to accompany the fleet 10 Manila" he con-
tinued. '-All Of them We're young and earnest.
/ did not attach much Importance 10 them or
10 what they said. The day before left
Hong Kong I received telegram from Consul
General Pratt. located at Singapore saying that
Aguinado was at Singapore, and would Join
me al Hong Kong. l replied All right: tell
him to come aboard but I attached little
Importance to the message that l sailed without
Aguinal6o. and before he arrived. There were
then many promises as to what the Fipnos
would DO. but 1 did not depend upon them.
Consul Williams assured me that upon ar
rival and the firing Of the first gun thirty thou
sand Fiiipinos would rise None did arise. and
I frequently joked him on this point
Admiral Dewey said the Spanish Governor
wanted TO surrender the city to him after the
obstruction Of the feet and that he would have
accepted the formal surrender if he had had
1000 troops TO garrison the city He told about
Aguinaldos arrival. saying that he put him
ashore and told him TO organize his people
Aguinaldo came back discouraged and wanted
.lanar rf+ sSr,1;,a
continue his efforts He paid no attention 10
Aguinaldo's first proclamation of independence
Of the Fipnos Speaking of Aguinaldo's mill
tary operations he said he did wonderfully in
whipping the Spanish
NEVER SALUTED FILIPINO FLAG
Admiral Dewey said elnphaticauv 4ba, he
never had recognized AguinaIdo's government
nor did he salute Aguinaldos flag: he never
called Aguinaldo general but addressed him
as Don Emilio"
lie never gave the Filipino republic the slight
est recognition: he had no authority, IA do so
and did not consider it an organized s,o,-er-r
1nent- He said the Spanfards feared tha Fill
pinos would enter Manila and therefore SIR
rendered 10 him in advance There was no
need for the loss Of a man In the ca,,tura of
the city. No gun would have been fired exce1t
Tor the desire Of the Governor, who said his
mad to fire and kill q few people, said +ba
Admiral, but the Spaniards did not fire bacauso !
ne warned them not to do so. He did NOT 10
heFe the FIlipinos could have taken rba ci.,- =,
unalded. bat the Spaniards We're greafin de- |
moralized
The Admiral said he never received . letter |
from Consul Pratt telling him he must co-oner-
aoe win Asulnaido- He added that Pratt wrote |
4 number of foolish letters about that time
Yef7T TF17 no..-
Navy Department that the Filfpinos were more /
capable Of self government than the Cubans. be-
cause he saw that Congress contemplated giving
Independence to Cuba and he knew that the
American people had little information concern
ing the F1Iipinos
THE SURRENDER OF MANILA
In explanation Of his statement that the city |
of Manila had surrendered on the day of the |
destruction Of the Spanish feet, Admiral Dewey |
said that in the naval engagement several guns |
had been fired at him from the shore batteries |
and that as soon the Spanish squadron was |
destroyed he steamed toward the city sending 1
word 70 the Governor that if another shot was |
fired from the shore he would fire on the city. |
The Governor replied the Admiral went on, |
that if did not fire upon the city the shore
batteries would remain silent. The Spanish flag /
was not taken down. but white flags We're
raised 1t was d surrender. and if l had had |
with me five Thousand troops with which to /!
occupy the city / could have taken it and held |
it ! anchored my ships under his guns two |
thousand yards and lay there tWeuty-four hours |
During that time the Governor General sent
word TO me several times that he wanted 10 |
surrender to ;ne-to the navy. I could not enter
tain his proposition Of a formal surrender be |
cause Of the lack of troops take possession Of
the city
The Admiral said that after Agunaldo got |
his forces organized he occupied Cavite but |
when he dewey learned that American troops |
were expected to arrive soon. he asked the |
Fipinos TO retire. They at first demurred, but |
ultimately consented. It was after this time. |
on July Il. that Aguinaldo sent to him from |
Baccoor his first proclamation Of the indepen- |
dence Of the Philippines
FIRST HE HEARD OF INDEPENDENTS
That proclamation" said the Admiral was /
the first intimatiOn had ever received of the |
aspiration OF the Philippine people for an indie
pendent government. Aguinaldo had never told |
me that the independence Of his people was |
his aim. But when the proclamation came I |
thought nothing of it. Indeed. ] attached 60
little Importance TO ii that 1 did not cable il To
Washington, but left its transmfttaI 70 tho
mails"
When Senator Lodge asked the Admiral
Did you recognize the Philippine Renuh1icpn |
ne replied: Il did not. I never gave r. tn. |