The Filipino-american Hostilities 3u455b

The Filipino-American Hostilities American Apostasy  It must be ed that it was the Americans who first approached Aguinaldo in Hongkong and in Singapore to persuade him to cooperate with Commodore Dewey in wresting the power from the Spaniards.  There was an informal alliance between Dewey and Aguinaldo – an alliance to fight a common enemy.  Aguinaldo was used by the Americans merely as a tool for their own selfish purpose. McKinley’s “Benevolent Assimilation” Proclamation  Before the conclusion of the Treaty of Paris, President McKinley pretended not to know what to do with the Philippines.  There were American vested interests who pressured McKinley into taking the Philippines: the American economic interests; the naval and military interests; and the religious interests.  McKinley finally instructed the American peace commissioners in Paris to demand the cession of the Philippines to the United States.  December 21, 1898 – McKinley issued his so-called “Benevolent Assimilation.” It expressly indicated the intention of the United States to stay in the Philippines by exercising the right of sovereignty over the Filipinos.  President McKinley instructed his military commanders in the Philippines to extend American sovereignty over the entire country by force.  General Elwell Otis received the proclamation.  January 4, 1899 – Otis published McKinley’s proclamation with some amendments inserted in such a way as not to convey the meanings of “sovereignty,” “protection,” and “right of cession.” Filipino Reaction  Unfortunately, General Miller, then in Iloilo, published the original text of the proclamation.  A copy fell into the hands of the officials of the Revolutionary Government.  Antonio Luna, editor of La Independencia, led the attack on the proclamation and pointed out that it was “merely a subterfuge to quiet the people temporarily until measures could be inaugurated and applied to put in practice all the odious features of government which Spain had employed”  January 5, 1899 – Aguinaldo issued a counter-proclamation. In a revised proclamation issued, Aguinaldo protested “most solemnly against this intrusion of the United States Government on the sovereignty of these islands.”  Otis regarded the two Aguinaldo proclamations as tantamount to war. Attempts to Relax the Tension  Aguinaldo knew that not having sufficient arms and ammunition the Filipino troops would be at a terrible disadvantage, once war commences.  January 9, 1899 – Aguinaldo wrote Otis notifying him of the appointment of Florentino Torres, Ambrosio Flores, and Manuel Arguelles to meet with the same number of American commissioners.

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The purpose of the meeting of the commissioners was to work out a plan for the “adjustment of the conflicting political interests” January 9 – 29, 1899 – The dates of the conferences The American tried to fool the Filipino into believing that they were ready to hear and to consider Filipino aspirations. In reality, they wanted the conference to continue indefinitely pending the arrival of American reinforcements from the United States. The Filipino military officers suspected that the Americans were merely fighting for time. January 31, 1899 – Another meeting of the Filipino and American commissioners was scheduled. Otis pleaded with Florentino Torres, to exert his best efforts in influencing the Malolos Government to stop the hostile demonstrations against the United States.

The San Juan Bridge Incident  February 1, 1899 – a group of American engineers was arrested by the Filipino troops  February 2, 1899 – Otis filed a protest with Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo pointed out that the Americans were only detained because they were found well within the Filipino lines in accordance with the decree of October 20, 1898 prohibiting foreigners from approaching the Filipino defensive works.  General Arthur MacArthur protested the presence of Colonel Luciano San Miguel’s soldiers within his territory.  February 4, 1899 – an incident occurred which led to the outbreak of the FilipinoAmerican hostilities.  At about eight in the evening, Private Willie W. Grayson, with two other of his patrol, advanced ahead of the village in San Juan to ascertain whether there were Filipino soldiers in the vicinity.  February 5, 1899 – MacArthur, without attempting to find out the cause of the firing, issued his order to advance against the Filipino troops. Investigation of the Incident  Captain Fernando Grey wired Malolos saying that the Americans had started the hostilities.  February 6, 1899 – Aguinaldo sent an emissary to Otis to convey to the American commander that “the firing on our side the night before had been against my order.”  Aguinaldo sent a telegram to all local chiefs informing them of the start of the FilipinoAmerican hostilities and ordering them to prepare the people for any emergency.  Aguinaldo ordered Felipe Buencamino, Sr. to start an investigation.  February 7, 1899 – Buencamino asked Secretary of War Baldomero Aguinaldo for information regarding the incident.  It appeared from the investigations that the senior military officers were not at their posts during the incident.  February 2 and 3, 1899 – the Filipino employees in American ships were dismissed from the service for no reason at all.  February 4, 1899 – some 200 to 300 American soldiers boarded two cascos in Manila and were towed to Cavite. Upon their arrival here they were not disembarked but sent back to Manila where they ed the other American contingents.