REPLY OF SMITH TO GUEVARA, MARCH 26, 1902

Exhibit 1366.

[U. S. copy of original. P. I. R., 843.3]

REPLY OF GENERAL SMITH TO THE CONDITIONS FOR PEACE PRESENTED BY GENERAL GUEVARA.

MARCH 26, 1902.

To the 1st. General Smith promises the amnesty asked giving freedom to all the political prisoners of the province of Samar, with the exception of those sentenced for crimes committed, and offers to interpose his entire influence to obtain the freedom of all the other prisoners of the archipelago including those at Guam.

To the 2nd. General Smith has no power to establish civil government, but can assure that when all of the province is pacified the Civil Commission of Manila will institute civil government in this province.

To the 3rd. This is a question that only Congress and the President of the United States of America can determine, but General Smith believed that the ceding or selling of any piece of Filipino territory is not only improbable but is likewise impossible.

To the 4th. The Civil Government has already fntroduced more than a thousand male and female school teachers from America and will continue to bring others as the necessity arises; it has established many schools for teachers and another for business and civil service in the Philippines; it has done all this, and will do more, with the sole object that the Filipinos be prepared to govern themselves.

To the 5th. The Civil Government of Manila and the Constitution of the United States guarantee freedom of speech and of the press; and the Holy Father in Rome has promised, according to the newspapers, to send no more Spanish Filipino Friars here.

To the 6th. The laws of the United States and of the Civil Government prohibit the entrance of Chinese into America and the Philippines, but to those who are already established it concedes the right to remain as it would be unjust to drive them out without compensation.



Agreed to by the small junta of chiefs and officers.

(Sgd.) GUEVARA.

CAMP, March 26, 1902.

CONDITIONS TO BE SUBMITTED FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ASSEMBLY CHARGED WITH ARRANGING IN THIS, MY CAMP, A BASIS OF PEACE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES CONCERNED.

1st. General amnesty and liberty of all the political prisoners and prisoners of war within the archipelago and those that are in Guam; they to be returned to their own homes.

2nd. That the Civil Administration organization of the Government in this province of Samar be established, and that the Governor and governmental employees be elected solely by the people, with a garrison of 300 police armed with guns with chiefs and officers for the maintenance of peace and public order, and to prevent pillaging by robbers in case of necessity.

3rd. That the United States shall cede no Filipino territory to any nation without the consent of the inhabitants.

4th. The free institution of colleges, schools of art and trades, military academy and everything that concerns the education and preparation of the Filipino people for their independence.

5th. Freedom of speech and of the press, and that no Friars be admitted into this province, only secular clergy to be admitted.

6th. That the Government will not permit the entrance of Chinese merchants, and that only coolies or laborers shall be admitted.