Staaten Nr. 11988. such laws as are applicable to other foreigners. In case they remain in the Vereinigte territory they may preserve their allegiance to the Crown of Spain by making, und Spanien. before a court of record, within a year from the date of the exchange of 10.Dez. 1898. ratifications of this treaty, a declaration of their decision to preserve such allegiance; in default of which declaration they shall be held to have renounced it and to have adopted the nationality of the territory in which they may reside. The civil rights and political status of the native inhabitants of the territories hereby ceded to the United States shall be determined by the Congress. Article X. The inhabitants of the territories over which Spain relinquishes or cedes her sovereignty shall be secured in the free exercise of their religion. Article XI. The Spaniards residing in the territories over which Spain by this treaty cedes or relinquishes her sovereignty shall be subject in matters civil as well as criminal to the jurisdiction of the courts of the country wherein the reside, pursuant to the ordinary laws governing the same; and they shall have the right to appear before such courts, and to pursue the same course as citizens of the country to which the courts belong. Article XII. Judicial proceedings pending at the time of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty in the territories over which Spain relinquishes or cedes her sovereignty shall be determined according to the following rules: || 1. Judgments rendered either in civil suits between private individuals, or in criminal matters, before the date mentioned, and with respect to which there is no recourse or right of review under the Spanish law, shall be deemed to be final, and shall be executed in due form by competent authority in the territory within which such judgments should be carried out. || 2. Civil suits between private individuals which may on the date mentioned be undetermined shall be prosecuted to judgments before the court in which they may then. be pending or in the court that may be substituted therefor. || 3. Criminal actions pending on the date mentioned before the Supreme Court of Spain against citizens of the territory which by this treaty ceases to be Spanish shall continue under its jurisdiction until final judgment; but, such judgment having been rendered, the execution thereof shall be committed to the competent authority of the place in which the case arose. Article XIII. The rights of property secured by copyrights and patents acquired by Spaniards in the Island of Cuba, and in Porto Rico, the Philippines and other ceded territories, at the time of the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty, shall continue to be respected. Spanish scientific, literary and Staaten artistic works, not subversive of public order in the territories in question, Nr 11988. shall continue to be admitted free of duty into such territories, for the period Vereinigte of ten years, to be reckoned from the date of the exchange of the ratifications und Spanien. of this treaty. Article XIV. Spain shall have the power to establish consular officers in the ports and places of the territories, the sovereignty over which has been either relinquished or ceded by the present treaty. Article XV. The Government of each country will, for the term of ten years, accord to the merchant vessels of the other country the same treatment in respect of all port charges, including entrance and clearance dues, light dues, and tonnage duties, as it accords to its own merchant vessels, not engaged in the coastwise trade. This article may at any time be terminated on six months notice given by either Government to the other. Article XVI. It is understood that any obligations assumed in this treaty by the United States with respect to Cuba are limited to the time of its occupancy thereof; but it will upon the termination of such occupancy, advise any Government established in the island to assume the same obligations. Article XVII. The present treaty shall be ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by Her Majesty the Queen Regent of Spain; and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington within six months from the date hereof, or earlier if possible. || In faith whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed this treaty and have hereunto affixed our seals. || Done in duplicate at Paris, the tenth day of December, in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety eight. [seal] William R. Day. [seal] Geo. Gray. [seal] Whitelaw Reid. [seal] Eugenio Montero Río. [seal] B. de Abarzuza. [seal] J. de Garnica. [seal] W. R. de Villa Urrutia. [seal] Rafael Cerero. 10.Dez. 1898. Nr. 11989. Staaten. Konsulatsberichte über die Philippinen vor und aus dem Kriege. Nr. 11989. VEREINIGTE STAATEN. Der Konsul in Manila an das Ministerium des Auswärtigen. Auf den Philippinen herrscht Bürgerkrieg. Consulate of the United States, Manila, Philippine Islands, February 22, 1898. Sir: Without specific instructions it seems my duty at this critical period Vereinigte to inform the Washington Government somewhat as to political conditions 22.Feb. 1898. here. But as I have been here less than a month vigilance has not overcome all difficulties, and the rigid censorship of the press in general and the suppression of such publications as uttered the truth have made news gathering onerous. I have before me a lengthy dispatch giving dates of many warlike and political matters, with rumors, observations, and conclusions, but deem it wise to write more briefly to-day, to bide events and wait specific instructions from you. | Peace was proclaimed, and since my coming festivities therefor were held; but there is no peace, and has been none for about two years. Conditions here and in Cuba are practically alike. War exists, battles are of almost daily occurrence, ambulances bring in many wounded, and hospitals are full. Prisoners are brought here and shot without trial, and Manila is under martial law. || The Crown forces have not been able to dislodge a rebel army within 10 miles of Manila, and last Saturday, February 19, a battle was there fought and 5 dead left on the field. Much of such information is found in my longer dispatch, referred to, and which is at your command. The GovernorGeneral, who is amiable and popular, having resigned, wishes credit for pacification, and certain rebel leaders were given a cash bribe of $ 1,650,000 to consent to public deportation to China. This bribe and deportation only multiplied claimants and fanned the fires of discontent. || Insurgents demand fewer exactions from church and state, a half of public offices, and fewer church holidays, which seriously retard business. || A republic is organized here, as in Cuba. Insurgents are being armed and drilled; are rapidly increasing in numbers and efficiency, and all agree that a general uprising will come as soon as the governor-general embarks for Spain, which is fixed for Vereinigte 22. Feb. 1898. March. While some combatant regiments have recently been returned to Nr. 11989. Oscar F. Williams, Consul. Nr. 11990. VEREINIGTE STAATEN. - Derselbe an Dasselbe. Die Consulate of the United States, Vereinigte Sir: Because of having given daily information to Commodore Dewey as Nr. 11990. to disturbances here I have assumed that he informed the Washington Go- Staaton. vernment, and I have written little on war matters. || Cuban conditions exist 27. März1898. here possibly in aggravated form. Spanish soldiers are killed and wounded daily, despite claimed pacification, and the hospitals are kept full. || The majority of casualties are reported from the ranks of the native insurgents, and the cruelties and horrors of war are daily repeated. || Cavite is the naval port of Luzon, situated about 8 miles across the bay from Manila, and about twenty miles distant by way of bay shore and public highway, and last Thursday, March 24, a Crown regiment of natives, the Seventy-fourth, stationed there was ordered to advance against native insurgents near by. The regiment refused to obey orders, and 8 corporals were called out and shot to death in presence of the regiment, which was again ordered to advance and threat made that a refusal would be death to all. All did refuse and were sent to barracks to await sentence. On the morning of the following Friday, March 25, the entire regiment, with arms and equipment, marched out of the barracks and deserted in a body to the insurgents, saying they were willing to fight the foreign enemies of Spain, but would not fight their friends. Since beginning this dispatch I learn of the desertion to the insurgents of another entire regiment. These are said to be the severest set-backs received by Spain during the two years' insurrection here. || On Friday morning, March 25, a church holiday, a meeting of natives was being held near my consulate in Manila, the natives being unarmed. The building was surrounded by police and military, the meeting broken up, twelve natives wantonly shot to death, several wounded, and sixty-two taken prisoners. Saturday morning, March 26, the sixty-two prisoners were marched in a body to the cemetery and shot to death, although it was shown that several were chance passers-by or employees in ships adjoining, not being in attendance at the meeting. || It was cold comfort to the widows and orphans of innocent men to have Spanish officers present them the mangled corpses of husbands and fathers. || Such horrors, but usually on a smaller scale, but at times attended by greater disregard for modern rules of war, occur almost daily, and the piteous cry goes up, "Will Staaten. Nr. 11990. it ever stop?" || The Crown forces are now building a cordon of small forts Vereinigte on city's outskirts for defense against provincial natives, who are expected to 27. März 1898. soon attack Manila. In fact, two detectives and one messenger have come to me this evening with information that attack was to be made to-night, and everybody is anxious, as 8,000 native insurgent soldiers are encamped only five miles away. The insurgents seem to lack arms and organization, but, so far as I can learn, outnumber the Spanish forces and inhabitants twenty to one. Arms are being obtained and organization slowly effected, and all classes fear the near future. It is said that the only reason why Manila has not been taken and burned is because a vast majority of its population is in perfect accord with the insurgents. || Because of anxiety among Americans and my wish to keep in reach of all demands, I keep the consulate open double. hours and on all holidays and Sundays, with biggest flag flying, so any needing a refuge may find it. || Barbarities are reported as daily practiced, such as placing prisoners and suspects in black-hole dungeons in the walls of old Manila, so placed that with rise of tide prisoners are drowned; several hundred reported to have so perished. | Cruelties too horrid for an official report are detailed to me every day, and it seems that the cry of outraged humanity would soon compel Spain to abolish Middle Age methods of warfare. Christian nations are such only in name when such atrocities as daily blacken the calendar are known to be perpetrated here and no effort made to protect the weak. There is to-day no Christian nation policy and mock diplomacy govern all; the vilest cruelties of war are added to the mangling of old men, women, and children to make full the measure of iniquity. | The American Indians would not permit one of their tribes to practice such barbarities. Why should so-called Christian nations decline to call a halt upon Spanish outrages? | All information as to defenses of Manila has been sent to Commodore George Dewey at Hongkong. || For fear of confiscation this dispatch and other mail go by messenger to Hongkong, to be there mailed. || Cable is cut in three places. I keep copies of dispatches, etc., but at present, for reasons, they are not copied on the register at consulate. Nr. 11991. I remain, etc., Oscar F. Williams, United States Consul, Manila. Nr. 11991. VEREINIGTE STAATEN. Der Konsul in Manila an den Minister des Auswärtigen. Bericht über die Seeschlacht bei Cavite. U. S. S. Baltimore, Bay of Manila, Philippine Islands, May 4, 1898. Sir: I have the honor to briefly report to you concerning the battle of Vereinigte Manila Bay, fought on May 1, 1898. || Heeding your mandate, and by repeated 4. Mai 1898. request of Commodore George Dewey, of the United States Asiatic Squadron Staaten. |