FILIPINO REACTION TO AMERICAN RULE

Treaty of Peace Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain

- Treaty of Paris
- December 10, 1898
- It ended the Spanish-American War
- Signatories from United States:
Former Secretary of State William R. Day
Senator Cushman K. Davis
Senator William P. Frye
Editor Whitelaw Reed
Mr. George Gray
- Signatories from Spain:
President of the Spanish Senate Eugenio Montero Rios
Senator Buenaventura Abarzuza
Associate Justice Jose de Garnica
Minister Plenipotentiary to Belgium Wenceslao Ramirez de Villa-Urrutia
General Rafael Cerero y Saenz
- Spain ceded the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States

The first three articles provided Spain’s relinquishment of her claims over its former colonies including
Cuba, Puerto Rico and other islands in the West Indies, and the Philippine Islands.

Article III stated that an amount of $20, 000,000 will be paid by the US to Spain after the treaty’s
ratification.

In Article IV, US maintained that in a period of ten years after the treaty’s ratification, it would admit
Spanish ships and merchandises with the same terms as that of American goods and vessels.

Through Articles V, the American government, in its own costs, assured Spain that all Spanish soldiers
taken as prisoners of war will be freed and sent back to their country. It also provided that Spain would
vacate the ceded territories in accordance with the Protocol of Peace signed on 12 August 1898, after
the treaty’s ratification. The same article also confirmed that properties belonging to the naval forces of
Spain in the ceded territories shall remain property of Spain.

Article VI held assurance that the two governments by their own respective costs, would release
prisoners of war, particularly insurgents of Cuba and the Philippines.

While claims for all kinds of indemnity were relinquished by both governments in Article VII, Article VIII
made clear, however, that relinquishment could not impair the rights belonging to the peaceful
possessions of provinces, municipalities, public and private establishments in the ceded territories.
Spain’s relinquishment was also extended on documents and archival materials that may be found in the
ceded territories or in Spain.

Article IX emphasized that Spanish subjects and natives residing in the ceded territories may remain
in the territories and preserve their allegiance to Spain but before a record of court. Failure to do so in a
year after the treaty’s ratification would make them adopt the nationality of the territories where they
reside.

Freedom of religion was given weight in Article X while Article XI upheld that Spaniards residing in the
ceded territories would be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the country/territory where they
reside in accordance to the judicial procedures and implementations incorporated in article XII.

It was also agreed upon by the Peace Commission panel that Spanish academic and literary works would
be admitted in the ceded territories free from dues, only in a period of ten years. This provision was
included in Article XIII of the treaty.

Spain’s right to establish consular offices and officers in the ports and some areas of the ceded
territories was provided in Article XIV.

Meanwhile, Article XV stated terms similar to that of Article III only that it emphasized that free dues
and charges would only be honored for ten years.

The US Government in Article XVI cleared that its obligation to Cuba is limited only during its occupancy
and upon its termination; the created government in the said country should assume responsibility.

Lastly, Article XVII pronounced that the treaty would be subject to ratification by the US President with
the aid of the US Senate and by the Queen Regent of Spain. Ratification was expected to be exchanged
six months from the date of the treaty’s conclusion.

True Version of the Philippine Revolution, by Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy, President of the Philippine
Republic

- Emilo Aguinaldo, 1869-1964

- The following are Aguinaldo’s description of the events from the onset to the Treaty of Biak na
Bato, to his exile in Hong Kong and his return to the Philippines in May 1898 and finally the
Filipino-American War.

1. True Version of the Philippine Revolution – The Revolution of 1896

2. The Treaty of Biak na Bato
3. Negotiations
4. The Revolution of 1898
5. The Dictatorial Government
6. The First Triumphs
7. The Philippine Flag
8. Expedition to Bisayas
9. The Steamer “L Compania De Filipinas”
10. The Proclamation of Independence
11. Ti’he Spanish Commission
12. The Thirteenth of August
13. First Clouds
14. Vain Hopes
 15. The American Commision
16. Impolitic Acts
17. The Mixed Commission
18. Outbreak of Hostilities

President William McKinley’s “Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation”

- December 21, 1898

The Philippine Bill of 1902

Returned American Soldiers Tell of Brutal Deeds Committed in the Philippines

- Special Dispatch to the Call

The American Occupation and the Engagement of September 28, 1901 Known as the “Massacre of
Balangiga”