No. 250.] Mr. Pratt to Mr. Day. [Confidential.] CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, Singapore, July 28, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 78, of the 16th ultimo, in reply to my dispatch No. 112, of the 28th of April last, reporting my proceedings in bringing together the insurgent leader, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, and Admiral Dewey before the latter's departure for Manila. I have carefully considered your observations upon my action in this matter and beg to repeat what I have stated in my later dispatches on the same subject, that I declined even to discuss with General Aguinaldo the question of the future policy of the United States with regard to the Philippines, that I held out no hopes to him of any kind, committed the Government in no way whatever, and, in the course of our confidences, never acted upon the assumption that the Government would cooperate with him-General Aguinaldo-for the furtherance of any plan of his own, nor that, in accepting his said cooperation, it would consider itself pledged to recognize any political claims which he might put forward. I have the honor, etc., E. SPENCER PRATT, United States Consul-General. Mr. Cridler to Mr. Pratt. No. 90.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 235 and No. 236 of June 20 and 21, 1898, concerning the Philippine insurgents and your action regarding them." In this connection reference is made to the Department's instructions No. 78 of June 16 and No. 87 of July 20, 1898, as well as to the concluding paragraph of your No. 236, wherein you say that you are not having nor do you propose to have any further dealings with the Philippine insurgents. Respectfully, yours, THOS. W. CRIDLER, Third Assistant Secretary. Mr. Johnson to Mr. Moore. No. 26.] CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, Amoy, China, July 8, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to submit a few facts and comments on conditions prevailing here which are suggested by the supposition that our Government contemplates taking charge of the Philippines, either temporarily or permanently. If the information I offer is already in your possession, then this dispatch can be of no service. There is a large Chinese population in the Philippines, who constitute the most intelligent class of common laborers, as well as many wealthy merchants. It is estimated that over 90 per cent of these are from Amoy and speak the Amoy dialect. There is a regular line of steamers between Amoy and Manila, and the traffic both in passengers and freight is an important industry. The Spanish Government maintains a consulate at Amoy for the sole purpose of looking after this trade with the Philippines, and it is given out here, I am informed, that the consulate will be closed and the affairs turned over to a merchant as soon as the islands pass from Spanish control. The largest British firms here inform me that Amoy is the most important Chinese port, so far as the Philippines are concerned, and that should we retain them the business in this consulate will increase many fold. It would under such conditions be inimical to our interests for any other nation to secure any exclusive rights in this province, especially in the vicinity of Amoy. It is reported in the press that Japan is now endeavoring to secure the exclusive right to develop the mines of this province. These include large coal fields near Amoy, as well as extensive deposits of lead, iron, and precious minerals. These coal fields are not yet worked. The Japanese recently secured a concession on the island of Amoy, which is to be developed in the interest of her Formosa trade. She has within a year let the contracts for buildings to the extent of 70,000 yen, and many moves which have attracted my atten tion confirm the rumor that she has in view a monopoly of the coal and iron and lead of the surrounding mountains. Amoy has probably the finest harbor in southern China, which is also taken into consideration. The leading British merchant here, Mr. Francis Cass, who during the past twenty years has frequently acted as American vice-consul, and whose knowledge is extensive and judgment good, thinks these are facts which should be considered in the event America retains the Philippines. Amoy's trade with the United States leads that of all other China ports, and is chiefly in the hands of the British. The entire community is jubilant over the prospect of the Manila trade passing under our control. So enthusiastic are they that every possible demonstration of good will has been resorted to. On July 4 every American flag which they could secure was hoisted over their commercial houses during the entire day, and every firm called at the consulate to express congratulations. The German firms were scarcely less cordial in their congratulations. They have suffered in their extensive trade with the Philippines because of certain annoying regulations, and realize that if put upon a similar fair basis to that now prevailing with the United States great good will result. Not knowing whether these facts are known in the Department or not, I refrain from further details until I know your pleasure. I have the honor, etc., A. BURLINGAME JOHNSON, United States Consul. SINGAPORE, June 30, 1896. To His Excellency the President of the United States of America. YOUR EXCELLENCY: Confirming my letter of 20th instant, I have now the honor to inclose a cover just received from General Aguinaldo, the Philippine insurgent leader, with instructions to forward it by first mail to Your Excellency. In the letter which General Aguinaldo writes me he states that he incloses a telegram which he desires me to transmit to Your Excellency, but both this and other documents I regret to say have been extracted from the cover during transit. The envelope arrived here with the side torn away and a note written on the same by your consul-general in Hongkong, through whom it was forwarded, that it had been received in bad condition from B. M. S. Linnet. I have taken steps to find the missing document, which will be forwarded to Your Excellency if the search proves successful. I have the honor, etc., [Translation.] HOWARD W. BRAY. CAVITE, June 10, 1898. To the President of the Republic of the Great North American Nation. DEAR AND HONORED SIR: I come to greet you with the most tender effusion of my soul, and to express to you my deep and sincere gratitude, in the name of the unfortunate Philippine people, for the efficient and disinterested protection which you have decided to give it, to shake off the yoke of the cruel and corrupt Spanish domination, as you are doing to the equally unfortunate Cuba, which Spain wishes to see annihilated rather than free and independent, giving her, to quiet her and to cicatrize the deep wounds made in her heart by the iniquities committed upon her children, a false autonomy, of which one bold blow of the Governor-General may deprive her immediately, as she has no colonial army to serve as a counterpoise to the almost sovereign powers of that supreme authority. At the same time, as I am always frank and open, I must express to you the great sorrow which all of us Filipinos felt on reading in the Times, a newspaper of the greatest circulation and reputation in the whole world, in its issue of the 5th of last month, the astounding statement that you, sir, will retain these islands until the end of the war, and, if Spain fails to pay the indemnity, will sell them to a European power, preferably Great Britain; but we found a palliative to our sorrow in the improbability and suddenness of that statement, as common sense refuses to believe that so sensible a public man as you would venture to make an assertion so contrary to common sense, before events are entirely consummated, as you well know that if God favors the triumph of your arms to-day, to-morrow He may defeat them and give the victory to Spain, and because such an assertion is not consistent with the protection of which you make a boast toward this unfortunate people, which has been groaning for more than three centuries in the clutches of a nation which has for its shield (emblem) the lion, one of the ferocious animals, although she displays it as a symbol of nobility, which she certainly does not possess, besides the fact that it is opposed to your noble and generous sentiments to wish to sell these islands to a European power such as England, thereby making us pass under the domination of that nation, which, although it has a truly liberal gov ernment, partakes none the less of the nature of a tyranny as it is monarchical. Oh, sir, you are greatly injured by this statement, which ought to be regarded merely as a diplomatic trick invented by the friends of Spain to induce us to help her by using this vile slander which has been hurled against you to arouse our hostility to that powerful nation over whose destinies you happily preside. The Philippine people, however, have not given credit to that awkwardly invented fable, and have seen in your nation, ever since your fleet destroyed in a moment the Spanish fleet which was here, in spite of its being assisted by the guns of their two forts, the angel who is the harbinger of their liberty; and they rose like a single wave when, as soon as I trod these shores, I addressed them to gain them over; and they captured, within the period of ten days, nearly the whole garrison of this Province of Cavite, in whose port I have my government-by the consent of the admiral of your triumphant fleet-as well as the garrison of the adjoining Province of Bataan, together with the governors and officials of both provinces; and my valiant hosts are now besieging Manila, the capital, on the south and east, while my forces in the Province of Bulacan, which adjoins this province on the north, and the chief town of which is likewise being besieged by them, nearly surround Manila on the north. Such is the astonishing triumph which this suffering people has gained in a few days over the conquering race whose traditional valor, of which it is continually bragging, has been humbled on these battle-. fields and has been succeeded by a great terror; and a people of such warlike qualities, which is, moreover, thoroughly civilized, as nearly two thirds of them can read and write, and as they have in their midst many men of high attainments in the sciences and arts, should not be sold as if it were a lamb to be sacrificed and exploited for the greed of another nation. I close by protesting once and a thousand times, in the name of this people, which knows how to fight for its honor by means of its improvised warriors and artillery men, against the statement published by the Times, mainly for the purpose of casting a blot in history upon its glorious name; a people which trusts blindly in you not to abandon it to the tyranny of Spain, but to leave it free and independent, even if you make peace with Spain, and I offer fervent prayers for the everincreasing prosperity of your powerful nation, to which and to you I shall show unbounded gratitude, and shall repay with interest that great obligation. Your humble servant, EMILIO AGUINALDO. CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: By request I have the honor to confirm the following telegram sent you on the 2d instant: Cortes family, representing wealthy educated families Manila, implore you through Consul-General Wildman, in name humanity and Christianity, not to desert them, and aid to obtain annexation Philippines to America. Please see the President. I may add in explanation of this telegram that there is a large colony of wealthy Filipinos who have been driven out of Manila, and the bulk of whose fortunes have been confiscated, resident here. They are people of education as well as wealth, and they are intensely loyal to the United States. The Cortes family are particularly so, and they have contributed money liberally to aid Aguinaldo on the understanding that he was fighting for annexation of the Philippines to the United States. Naturally I sympathize with them in their desire to become a part of the United States, and have advised them that you would give their cablegram your kindly consideration. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. MARCUS HANNA, ROUNSEVELLE WILDMAN, United States Senate, Washington. Consul-General. STATEMENT OF MAJ. GEN. WESLEY MERRITT, U. S. A., OCTOBER 4, 1898, BEFORE THE UNITED STATES PEACE COMMISSION AT PARIS, AND ACCOMPANYING PAPERS. COMMISSIONERS OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, October 4, 1898. Gen. Wesley Merritt appeared before the Commission. The first matter offered was a communication from Gen. F. V. Greene, U. S. V., which was read by the secretary. Mr. DAY. What have you to say, General, as to the qualifications, knowledge, and ability of General Greene to speak on this subject? General MERRITT. This communication was written without a knowledge on his part that it would be laid before the Commission, so he probably expresses himself a little more strongly than he would if he knew he was talking to you gentlemen having this matter ir charge. I consider his views exceedingly good, and they are sup ported by the views of the others who have reported on the different subjects mentioned there, and I can say that generally they are all men of ability and men whose views would have a great deal of weight with me. Mr. FRYE. What experience has General Greene had? Mr. FRYE. In any direction as an investigator? a while? He was in Russia General MERRITT. Yes, sir; and wrote the best and most authenticthe best received-book on the Russian-Turkish war published yet. He is a man who reads a great deal, quite a student, a very bright man. Mr. DAVIS. Is he a Regular Army officer? General MERRITT. Yes, sir; graduated from the Academy, I think in 1867, and has since that time been instructor of engineering at the Academy and was when I knew him-while I commanded at the Academy, about five years. Mr. REID. What opportunities has he had for observation in the Philippines? General MERRITT. He went at the same time I did and left at the same time. He was out on the lines all the time, and took a great deal of interest in investigating with the citizens and soldiers. He knew some of the ranking officers, although he did not know Aguinaldo nor have anything to do with him. It was part of my policy that we should keep ourselves aloof from Aguinaldo as much as possible, because we knew trouble would occur from his wanting to go to Manila at the time of its surrender. Mr. FRYE. He is a gentleman on whose judgment you would have a great deal of reliance? General MERRITT. Yes, sir. |