Show i I IPOItt Phlippine j Natives Fighting ForTh For-Th ir Independence SAME FOOTING AS CUBA UNEXPECTED PHASE OFT SITUATION Negotiations Between General Aqui i naldo the Insurgent Leader and United States Consul Pratt and Admiral DeTvy Understanding Through Which + Insurgents Cn operate op-erate WithAmericans I Vancouver B C June lOLate mall advices from Hongkong contain inter longkonp I eating details regarding the negotia tons between the Philippine rebel chief Aquinaldo and the United States officials offi-cials at Sjr saporet just before the actual ac-tual outbreak of hostilities between Spain ant the United States as a result re-sult of which General Aciulnalclo entered en-tered into direct relations with Admiral Dewey while that officer was still at Hongkong General Emilio Aquinaldp accompanied accompan-ied by his aide de camp Colonel Mar edo H Del Filar and private e > qcrc tary J Leyba arrived incognito in Singapore from Saigon on April 21 In Saigon where Aquinaldo remained for one week he had interviews with one or two ojd Philippine friends particularly particu-larly Howard W Bray an intimate English friend for 15 years a resident of the Philippines about the Mate of t affairs in the islands generally Particular Par-ticular reference was made to ths possibility pos-sibility of war between the United States and Spain and whether in such event the United Stages would an StatC eventually even-tually recognize the independence of the Philippines provided he Jent his cooperation to the Americans In the conquest of the country I In the meantime Mr Bray was introduced in-troduced to Mr Spencer Pratt consul general of the United States who wag anxious in view of the contingencies to learn as much as pcssible about tiw real conditions in the Philippines Bray after a conversation with Consul Pratt arranged an interview beAeen that gentleman and Aquinaldo There were present General Aquinaldo Y Fami E pencer Prott consul geneal of the United States Howard W Bray Aquinaldo s private secretary J 4ey ba Colonel M H Del l Filar and Dr Marcelino Santos During the conferenceat which Mr Bray acted as interpreter General Aauinaldo explained to Consul General Pratt the incidents and objects of the late rebellion and described the present disturbed state of the countny Aquin aldo then proceeded to detail the nature I of the cooperation he would give In the event of the American forces landing land-ing and taking possession of Manila he would guarantee to maintain order and discipline among the native troops and inhatojtants in the sarae humane aIn a-in which he had hitherto conducted the war and prevent them from committing commit-ting outrages on defenseless Spaniards beyond what was inevitable in fajr and honorable warfare He further declared his abiltiy tQ establish a proper and responsible re-sponsible government on liberal principles prin-ciples and would be willing to accept the same terms au the United States intended giving Cub Consul General Pratt coincided with the generals views expressed during the discussion placed himself at onCe in telegraphic communication with Admiral Ad-miral I Dewey at Hongkong between whom and Mr Pratt r requent interchange inter-change of telegrams t v place As the result another private Interview Inter-view was arranged at the American consular residence between Aquinaldo Air Pratt Mr Bray raid Mr Leybt As a sequel to this interview and in response to the urgent request ofMd miral Dewey Aqulnaldo left Singapore for Hongkong here he met Dewey with whom he went to Manila At the beginning hostilities Aquin aides policy embraced the independence indepen-dence of the Philippines their internal affairs to be controlled by European and American advisers American protection pro-tection would be desirable temporarily on the same lines as this which might be instituted hereafter in Cuba The i ports of the Philippines would be free to trade of the world safeguards being I enacted against an intlux of Chinese aliens who would compete with the industrial in-dustrial population of the country There would be a complete reform of the present judicature of the country under experienced European Jaw officers offi-cers Entire freedom of the press would be established a well as the right of public meeting There would be general religious toleration and steps taken for the abolition and expulsion of tyrannical II nical religious fraternities who have I laid such strong hands on every branch of the civil administration Full provision pro-vision would be given for the exploitation exploita-tion of the natural resources and wealth of the country by roads and railways and by the removal of hindrances hind-rances to enterprise and the investment invest-ment of capital Spanish officials would be removed to a place of safety until an opportunity offered to return them to Spain The preservation of the public pub-lic safety and order and the checking of reprisals against Spaniards would naturally be the first care of the government gov-ernment in the new state of affairs |