llowing:

That even supposing that the effects existing in the storehouse
of Don Antonio Osorio were subject to capture, when I established
myself in the plaza (town) of Cavite, Admiral Dewey authorized me
to dispose of everything that I might find in the same, including
the arms which the Spanish left in the arsenal. But as he was aware
that said effects belonged to the personal property (ownership) of
a Filipino, who traded with them by virtue of a contribution to the
Spanish Government, I would not have touched them had not the owner
placed them at my disposition for the purposes of the war.

I came from Hong Kong to prevent my countrymen from making common
cause with the Spanish against the North Americans, pledging, before,
my word to Admiral Dewey to not give place to (to allow) any internal
discord because (being) a judge of their desires I had the strong
conviction that I would succeed in both objects; establishing a
government according to their desires.

Thus it is that at the beginning I proclaimed the dictatorship,
and afterwards, when some of the Provinces had already liberated
themselves from Spanish domination, I established a revolutionary
government that to-day exists, giving it a democratic and popular
character, as far as the abnormal circumstances of war permitted,
in order that they (the Provinces) might be justly represented and
administered to their satisfaction.

It is true that my government has not been acknowledged by any of
the foreign powers; but we expect that the great North American
nation, which struggled first for its independence and afterwards
for the abolition of slavery, and is now actually struggling for the
independence of Cuba, would look upon it with greater benevolence
than any other nation. Because of this we have always acknowledged
the right of preference as to our gratitude.

Debtor to the generosity of the North Americans, and to the favors
which we have received through Admiral Dewey, and being more desirous
than any other of preventing any conflict which would have as a result
foreign intervention which must be extremely prejudicial not alone to
my nation, but also to that of Your Excellency, I consider it my duty
to advise you of the undesirability of disembarking North American
troops in the places conquered by the Filipinos from the Spanish,
without previous notice to this government, because as no formal
agreement yet exists between the two nations, the Philipp