n
Saigon. War between the United States and Spain had been rendered
inevitable by the resolution of Congress demanding that Spain should
withdraw her forces from Cuba, and was declared on April 21. Although
Aguinaldo and his followers did not appreciate the influence which
conditions on the other side of the world might have upon the future of
the Philippines, it happened that in Singapore at that time there was
an Englishman named Bray who did. He had been a member of the civil
service in India, and had lived for some years in the Philippines,
but he had fallen upon evil days and was engaged in writing letters
to the Singapore _Free Press_ upon the Philippines, and in retailing
such information as was in his possession concerning them to the
United States consul-general in Singapore, Mr. E. Spencer Pratt, for
transmittal to Commodore Dewey. Bray heard of the arrival of Aguinaldo
and realized what could be done with him, and that if the matter were
well handled it might be to his own advantage. He went at once to see
Aguinaldo and informed him that the United States consul-general was
anxious to see him. He went to the consul-general and informed him of
the importance of Aguinaldo, and that he was in Singapore. Aguinaldo
had to be persuaded to agree to a meeting. The consul-general
was anxious for it, and it took place, according to Aguinaldo, on
the night of April 22 (according to Pratt, on the morning of April
24). The statement made by Aguinaldo is probably correct. According
to his account book, he paid $11 on April 23, 1898, for a telegram
to the Hongkong junta concerning the negotiations 'with America.'

"Aguinaldo knew but little English, Pratt knew no Spanish, so in
their interview Bray acted as interpreter. An interpreter who is
interested in the subject of the discussion may be a dangerous man. It
is impossible to say what he told Aguinaldo. Certainly Pratt did not
know; but whatever was said during these conversations it is within
the limits of possibility that Pratt may have been made to say by
the interpreter more than he intended, and that his statements of
what would probably be granted by the United States Government and
his expression of good wishes for the cause of Filipino independence
may have been translated as assurances and as promises. Bray, who,
according to his Filipino former friends, was apt to talk too much, may
have talked too much on this occasion, and so the myth of the formal
agreement