ferous cheers by the
Filipinos for the President of the United States and all sympathizers
with their welfare. At the close of the reception a band of Philippine
musicians played a selection of graceful airs of their native isles.

With his despatch No. 229, dated Singapore, June 9, the Consul-General
sent press reports of these proceedings to the Secretary of State in
Washington, who replied as follows [196]:--

No. 87.

_Department of State_,

_Washington, July_ 20, 1898.

_Sir_,--

Your No. 229 of the 9th ultimo, inclosing printed copies of
a report from the _Straits Times_ of the same day ... with a
view to its communication to the Press, has been received and
considered. By Department's telegram of the 17th of June you were
instructed to avoid unauthorized negotiations with the Philippine
insurgents. The reasons for this instruction were conveyed to you
in my No. 78 of the 16th of June, by which the President's views
on the subject of your relations with General Aguinaldo were
fully expressed. The extract now communicated by you from the
_Straits Times_ of the 9th of June, has occasioned a feeling of
disquietude and a doubt as to whether some of your acts may not
have borne a significance and produced an impression which this
Government would be compelled to regret. The address presented
to you by the 25 or 30 Filipinos who gathered about the consulate
discloses an understanding on their part that the object of Admiral
Dewey was to support the cause of General Aguinaldo, and that the
ultimate object of our action is to secure the independence of
the Philippines "under the protection of the United States." Your
address does not repel this implication, and it moreover represents
that General Aguinaldo was "sought out by you," whereas it had
been the understanding of the Department that you received him
only upon the request of a British subject ... who formerly lived
in the Philippines. Your further reference to General Aguinaldo
as "the man for the occasion" and to your "bringing about" the
"arrangement" between "General Aguinaldo and Admiral Dewey which
has resulted so happily" also represents the matter in a light
which causes apprehension lest your action may have laid the
ground of future misunderstandings and complications. For these
reasons the Department has not caused