Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930 / Published under the direction of Dean maximo M. Kalaw, executive secretary, University of the Philippines.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SECTION 227
honest understanding, these sentiments, which in appearance are contradictory may have a practical consummation. Please grant the
weight of your advices to this end, and believe me that my Government as well as myself will do everything in our power to second you,
and to obtain that every Filipino raise an altar on his heart dedicated
to the eternal memory of your noble redemption, and ever pray to the
Almighty for the greatness and prosperity of the Republic of the
United States of America.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
FELIPE AGONCILLO.
EXTRAORDINARY DELEGATION OF THE PHILIPPINE
GOVERNMENT
Paris, Dec. 12, 1898.
His Excellency
William McKinley
President of the United States of America
Washington, D. C.
U. S.A.
Your Excellency:
By the extracts of your Message to the Senate cabled to Europe,
you have decided on the military occupation of the Philippines by the
American Army, until Congress shall decide what is to be the future
form of Government in the islands; and as the articles of the European Press predict the imminence of a rupture between the American
and Filipino Forces, I have thought it my duty to request you by a
cable message, which I hope reached you safely and which I now
confirm by the enclosed copy, not to enforce this military occupation
by the American Army, but in the meantime to tolerate the present
status quo. Side by side with the American Forces the Filipino
Army has been fighting on behalf of their own country, and also on
that of the United States, and if the native army has been organized
and formed with such patriotic objects, and with the authority and
consent of Admiral Dewey, why cannot this same army be admitted
to perform such military occupation?
General Aguinaldo and his government are anxious and ready
to come to a just and reasonable understanding for the future with
the American Government, but they are entitled also not to be disappointed, now that the war is over, in their legitimate expectations
nor deprived of the status of which they are in possession, which are
but the natural consequences of the promises made to them by the