When the news came that General Merritt had been ordered to Paris, and would pass through the Red sea en route, taking the China to Hongkong to catch a peninsular and oriental steamer, I telegraphed the fact to General Aguinaldo over our military wires and his special wire, and his commissioner, duly advised, became, with General Merritt’s aid, at Hongkong a passenger on the China.

He is well known to the world as Senor Filipe Agoncillo, who visited Washington City, saw the President and proceeded to Paris.

CHAPTER V

The Philippine Mission.

Correspondence With Aguinaldo About It—­Notes by Senor Felipe Agoncillo—­Relations Between Admiral Dewey and Senor Aguinaldo—­Terms of Peace Made by Spanish Governor-General with Insurgents, December, 1897—­Law Suit Between Aguinaldo and Artacho—­Aguinaldo’s Proclamation of May 24, 1898.

When General Merritt decided to hold the China for a day to take him to Hongkong on the way to Paris, I telegraphed Aguinaldo of the movements of the ship, arid received this dispatch from the General: 

“War Department, United States Volunteer Signal Corps, sent from Bakoor August 29, 1898.—­To Mr. Murat Halstead, Hotel Oriente, Manila:  Thankful for your announcing China’s departure.  We are to send a person by her if possible, whom I recommend to you.  Being much obliged for the favor.

“A.  G. Escamilla,” “Private Secretary to General Aguinaldo.”

On the same day the General sent the following personal letter: 

“Dear Sir:  The bearer, Dr. G. Apacible, is the person whom was announced to you in the telegram.

“I am desirous of sending him to Hongkong, if possible, by the China, recommending him at the same time to your care and good will.  Thanking you for the favor, I’m respectfully yours,

Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy.

“Mr. Murat Halstead, Manila.

“Bakoor, 29th August, 1898.”

General Aguinaldo proceeded vigorously to make use of his knowledge that the China would go to Hongkong for General Merritt and sent his secretary and others to me at the Hotel Oriente, but they arrived after I had left the house.  They came to the China and General Merritt had not arrived and did not appear until within a few minutes of the start.  Then the deputation from the insurgent chieftain had an interview with him, asking that two of their number should go to Hongkong on the China to express fully the views of the insurgent government to to the commissioner, Don Felipe Agoncillo, chosen to represent the Filipinos at Washington and Paris and to ask that he be allowed to go to the United States on the China.  When the committee saw General Merritt he was taking leave of Admiral Dewey, and the General, who had not heard of this movement until that moment—­the question being entirely new—­invited the opinion of the Admiral, who said there was “certainly no objection,” and on the contrary, it would be very well to permit the passage of the deputation to Hongkong and of the commissioner appointed from that city to Washington.  General Merritt at once in half a dozen words gave the order, and the journey began.