the four parties (?) of the insurgents now here, under charge of
the competent chiefs authorized in writing by him, should go to
the Philippines to intervene, after a conference with the Admiral,
in these important questions; such means, in his opinion, should
be first employed to ascertain in an authentic manner what the
intentions of the United States in regard to that country are; and
if his intervention is absolutely necessary, he would not object to
go at once to the Philippines, endeavouring by all the means in his
power to remedy the critical condition of the country, to which he
had offered, and always would willingly offer, to sacrifice his life."

Why adopt means to learn from the admiral what the intentions of the
United States were in regard to the Philippines if both he and Pratt
had already promised recognition of independence?

"Srs. Sandico, Garchitorena, Gonzaga [36] and Apacible replied that
they were fully convinced the Admiral of the American squadron
would furnish the President all the arms which he might desire,
since the former was convinced that the fleet could do nothing
in the Philippines unless it were used in conjunction with the
insurgents in the development of their plans of war against the Spanish
government.... The authority to treat which the President desired to
give to the other chiefs, without reflecting at all upon their personal
qualifications, they did not believe would be as efficacious as his
personal intervention which is necessary in grave affairs, such as
those the subject of discussion; there would be no better occasion
than that afforded them to insure the landing of the expeditionary
forces on those islands and to arm themselves at the expense of the
Americans and to assure the situation of the Philippines in regard
to our legitimate aspirations against those very people. The Filipino