The Insurgent leaders were alert to keep the common people and the soldiers from learning of the kindly purposes of the United States.

They were forbidden to read the document and we were reliably informed that the imposition of the death penalty was threatened if this order was violated.

In Manila crowds of Filipinos gathered about copies of the proclamation which were posted in public places.

Many of them were soon effaced by Insurgent agents or sympathizers.
This document unquestionably served a very useful purpose.

[445] For one thing, it promptly brought us into much closer touch with the more conservative Filipinos.
We soon established relations of friendliness and confidence with men like Arellano, Torres, Legarda and Tavera, who had left the Malolos government when it demonstrated its futility, and were ready to turn to the United States for help.