Mr. Cambon to Mr. Day.
Washington, August 29, 1898.
According to news received at Madrid from the Philippines, the insurrection is spreading more and more in the archipelago. By the help of five vessels at their disposal, the insurgents are said to be [Page 809] threatening various points where the Spanish forts are not able to oppose a successful resistance, and the peaceable population is thus exposed, without defense, to the barbarous treatment of the rebel bands.
The Royal Government, whose duty it is to provide for the protection of the life and property of the Spanish subjects in the Philippines, has expressed the wish that the Federal Government be informed of the fears which this situation causes it, and which might be advantageously remedied in the following manner:
The Spanish troops whom the capitulation of the city of Manila has reduced to inaction might be placed at once at the disposal of Spain, who would use them for the defense of the islands against the insurgents.
The minister of state at Madrid thinks that if the United States Government sees any objections to this arrangement, it will, at least, have no reason to oppose the dispatch of troops directly from the Peninsula to the Philippines.