MEETING IN ANTIQUE, APRIL 19, 1899

Exhibit 1245.

[Original in Spanish. D . S . P.I.R . , 116 .2.]

RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF A MEETING IN ANTIQUE (PANAY) ON THE 19TH OF APRIL, 1899.

In the town hall of Antique some members of the provincial council, the local presidentes, the delegates and heads of all of towns of this province assembled in accordance with the directions contained in circulars issued by Seņor Leandro Fullon y Locsin, General Commanding in chief in the military operations in this Island, assisted by Captain Egmidio Mascoso y Alipio of the staff as acting secretary, for the purpose of answering a petition of the General, asking that they should investig.ate and make a statement concerning his conduct in this provinc'e and state whether the inhabitants of the same had any complaints to make. All of the gentlemen taking part in this meeting stated freely and spon. taneously that those whom they represented were perfectly well satisfied with the command of the general, not only on account of the liberty and independence which he had given them, but also on account of the kind· ness which he had shown to all of them and especially on account of the rectitude and elevation of views which had marked his whole conduct in the midst of the hardships of war; this it was which had forced them to assemble in this meeting, not only to approve his acts but als.o to earnestly request him to assume the functions of head of the province, if he saw no reason for refusing to do so. The General asked all of the persons who took part in the meeting if they had any complaints or statements to make concerning his conduct, and stated that if they had any such complaint to make, they should not be afraid to make it, since he would submit to the Supreme Government his resignation of his command in case he had given rise to any discontent. Everyone stated that so far from being dissatisfied what they all hoped was that he would not abandon them under these critical conditions through which the country is passing and in order to demonstrate the truth of this they sign the record of this meeting which then adjourned as I the secretary testify.

[Note. - Six and a half folio pages of signatures follow in the original.]