GENERAL TO LUCENTE, JUNE 23, 1900

Exhibit 1379.

[Original in Spanish. Unsigned document. P.I.R., 1223.1.]

JUNE 23, 1900.

Sr. CIPRIANO LUCENTE,
Tacloban [Leyte.].

My DEAR SIR AND FRIEND: I have the honor to inform you that the 3rd instant, the American civil commission, of which Mr. Taft is the president, arrived here with the purpose, I understand, of studying the necessities of the country and to ascertain the aspirations of its inhabitants, in order to establish subsequently, the form of government which, in its opinion, may best accord with the former and meet the latter. I also inform you that this Commission not wishing, according to information which I have received from Manila, to treat with the people in arms, unless such arms arc first laid down, naturally will completely ignore our Honorable President, whose unalterable opinion is to secure the Independence of the Philippines, cost it what it may, and however long the present war may last. In view of this position of the Commission, our President does not nor does he wish to recognize that it has any official character, it being indeed the general belief of all our politicians that said commission lacks this character. For this reason, being desirous of avoiding ulterior results, which might prejudice us, as it is probable that the Commission will endeavor to collect the greatest amount of data possible in favor of the present policy of the Government of the United States, and as it is possible that it may send some of its representatives to your province in order to take advantage among the pacific people of their good faith in some cases and their ignorance in others, I deem it advisable to address you by means of this letter, hoping that your patriotism and ardent love for the Philippines, will lead you to circulate actively the following instructions in the towns under your jurisdiction:

1. Whenever any person, Filipino or foreign, of any condition, should be questioned as to whether the Filipinos wish peace or not, answer shall be made that they wish peace.

2. If they are asked in what manner they wish that peace be secured, answer shall be made in the manner which Sr. E. Aguinaldo may deem best, whom we up to the present time recognize as President, whose orders we await and which we are always disposed to obey; consequently we are of the opinion that said gentleman is the best person with whom the Commission could treat.

3. If they should be asked why they are still in the towns while their President is still bearing arms, they shall answer; That not believing ourselves suitable for the war, and being forced by matters beyond our control, more than anything else, we are in the towns and obey the government of occupation in all that it may order, hoping in this manner to secure the best possible solution of the Philippine problem.

4. If they should be asked what the solution is that the Filipinos desire, they shall answer: as Filipinos, we desire the Independence of the Philippines.

5. If they should be asked whether they want annexation, they should answer: If possible, we do not want annexation.

6. If they should be asked whether they serve the American Government through convenience alone, they shall answer; No, we have already said that we serve because we are obliged to do so by force majeure.

Persons who, by reason of their ignorance, should find it difficult to understand or learn these instructions, shall be told to make answer to any question which may be asked them: I obey the commands of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Sr. Emilio Aguinaldo, or also: what the local chief and other principales of the town may order.

These are, my dear friend, the instructions which I have the honor to entrust to your zeal and prudence, hoping that you will study them exhaustively, in order to ascertnin whether there are any other questions which they may put to us, in which event you will write me promptly and inform me of it, so that I may prepare the proper answer.

In the event that the Commission should desire the opinion of the people in writing, or when you should consider such method advisable, you are authorized to draft instructions in the form of a statement, securing the signatures of all the persons in the town able to affix it.

Hoping that you will have the courtesy to acknowledge receipt here-of, I remain as ever your affectionate friend and General.

(Unsigned.)

[Here follows a list of towns to which the above is to be sent.]