The Spanish had yielded Iloilo to the insurgents for the purpose of troubling the Americans.

Agoncillo, on January 6, filed a request with the authorities at Washington for an interview with the President to discuss affairs in the Philippines.  The next day the government officials were surprised to learn that messages to General Otis to deal mildly with the rebels and not to force a conflict had become known to Agoncillo, and cabled by him to Aguinaldo.  At the same time came Aguinaldo’s protest against General Otis signing himself “Military Governor of the Philippines.”

Agoncillo expressed still more violent sentiments during the second week in January.  On the 8th of the month he gave out this statement: 

“In my opinion the Filipino people, whom I represent, will never consent to become a colony dependency of the United States.  The soldiers of the Filipino army have pledged their lives that they will not lay down their arms until General Aguinaldo tells them to do so, and they will keep that pledge, I feel confident.”

On the day after Aguinaldo issued his second proclamation in Manila, in which he threatened to drive the Americans from the islands, called the Deity to witness that their blood would be on their own heads if it was shed, and detailed at greater length the promises he claimed were made by the Americans as to the part of the insurgents in the campaign.

The Filipino committees in London, Paris and Madrid about this time telegraphed to President McKinley as follows: 

“We protest against the disembarkation of American troops at Iloilo.  The treaty of peace still unratified, the American claim to sovereignty is premature.  Pray reconsider the resolution regarding Iloilo.  Filipinos wish for the friendship of America and abhor militarism and deceit.”

The threats that Manila must be taken never ceased in the rebel camp, and they hung around with sweltering venom, cultivating grievances, like a horde of wolves and panthers, hungry and rabid.

At the beginning of February the situation at Manila was regarded as serious, but the officials saw no reason why they could not command it for a time at least.  General Otis reported, in connection with some matters pertaining to the shipment home of sick Spanish soldiers, that he could hold out beyond a doubt until his reinforcements arrived, and added that as the news had reached Manila that there was every prospect that the peace treaty would soon be ratified, the effect on the natives had been satisfactory.  Sunday morning, February 5, reports were received by the American press that the Filipino insurgents under Aguinaldo had attacked the American lines before Manila, and that a battle had been fought, in which many on both sides had been killed or wounded.