Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-28
In His Denunciation Of Agui-
na|do's Real Purposes,
No Patriotism but After Loot and
Plumber for Self.
Admiral Annoyed at Questions and
Leaves the Room.

by Senator Patterson, he said that he
mad begun negotiations with the gov
ernor general of the Philippines, Gen.
Jaudenes, for the surrender Of the city
and the negotiations We're conducted
through the Belgian consul, who, after
the death of the British consul, had
been very courteous in acting as a GO
between. 1t was a diplomatic negotia-
ton, no letters being written. The adj
miral said he had informed Gen. Mer-
rift, of the proffer of Gen. Jaudenes.
but that he did not believe that Mer-
rift had taken much stock in it,
| Il assured him that such was the
case" said the admiral, but told him
of the arrangement, that before the
surrender should take place | was to
engage an outlying fort and make the
signal according to the Interna tional
| code Do you surrender after which
the Spaniards were to hoist the white
| lag on the southern bastion. | may
say that ! was the first to discover the
flag Notwithstanding that | had sta
toned so men to look out for it, 1t was
Il thick day and 1 CHANGED to be the
first to discover it." He also said he
had read the testimony of Gen. Mac
Arthur. saying that he knew of no
agreement of the kind mentioned, but
that it had not been his Dewey's) bust
ness to communicate with anyone cx-
cept the commanding officer.
Asked by Mr.. Patterson to explain his
statement that Gen. Merritt had not
| accepted the report that the Spaniards
| had agreed to capitulate, Admiral
| Dewey said that was only his belief
II don't believe" he said that the
general entirely trusted the Spanish au-
| thorities. Still he did not say so in so
| many words. | may add that l have
since learned that some of the Spanish
| officers We're tempted to fire at us.
| though they did not do so. Even my
own tlag-lieutenant did not acceut their
prOffer as in the best faith. | knew.
| however, that they would surrender,
| for | understood the straits they were
| in"
| Replying to a question as to whether
| the agreement to surrender had been
| made public at the time of the attack
upon Manila, Admiral Dewey said he
| thought not. There are" he said, lots
of things which are not communicated
| to the public"
| Mr.. Patterson sought to secure from
| Admiral Dewey an admission that
AguinaldO had issued proclamation of
| independence to the Filipinos about the
! time of the sinking of the Spanish
| squadron, but the admiral said he did
| not remember it, although it was pos
sible that he might have done so.
Mr.. Patterson then read a paper for
Warded by Consul General Pratt, May
IL. 1898, in which the Philippine leader
said that Providence had opened the
way for independence to the Filipinos
l. and spoke of the Americans as their
| liberator. The admiral said however,
that he did not remember to have seen
the paper. He had, he said, given
Aguinaldo printing press and prob
ably he used this press for getting out
his proclGmations.
In reply to Il question the admiral
said that Consul Williams, who had
been stationed at Manila, was an hon
est man, although perhaps quite &C.
centric. The admiral did not remember
having promised to Aguinaldo his Cor
dial cooperation as the consul had
reported.
For the purpose of making inquiry
concerning some of the representations
of Consul General Williams, located at
Hong Kong, Mr.. Patterson asked con-
corning that gentleman's character.
The admiral apparently hesitated to re-
ply but then said: Hes dead I'd rath-
er not say. He was the United States
consul general" He added that he
would prefer not to reply to further
questions, but when Mr.. Patterson per-
sisted, he added: "He was a very able
man-an able consul"
Mr.. Patterson then read Mr.. Wild
mans letter of July Is, 1898, saying that
Aguinaldo had conducted himself in
dignified manner, etc, and the admiral
assented to the truth of this statement
Speaking of Aguinaldos loyalty, the
witness said that he had become sus-
picious of that leader before the receipt
of his proclamation of July IS. He
said: II began to suspect that he was
not loyal to us when he demurred to
moving out of Cavite when our troops
arrived"
You mean that they were thinking
more of their own independence than
of us?''
Yes"
Admiral Dewey also testified concern
ing the arms sent to Manila by Agui-
naldo, and Senator DIETRICH asked the
admiral if ''he did not believe that the
arms were purchased with money pre-
viousiy paid by Spain to secure peace
and that it was his Intention to use the
money to fonent another insurrection
for the purpose of gain"
The admiraPs reply was: Exactly
So
Mr.. Patterson next called attention
to a number of proclamations forward
cd by him to Washington in May, but
Admiral Dewey said he did not remem-
Der having read them and in explana-
ton of his failure in this respect hel
said:
1.-The days and nights were not longI
enough for me to get through with myl
work at that time. Evidently / did notI
consider the proclamations as of i'm
portance il did read them. for 1 madel
no comment on them" "a
Continued on page 81