Arguelles told the truth upon his return, and this, together with his suggestion that it might be well to consider the acceptance of the form of government offered by the United States, nearly cost him his life.

Relative to this matter Taylor says:-- "When Arguelles returned to the insurgent lines, it must have been considered that he had said too much in Manila.

While he had been sent there to persuade the Americans to agree to a suspension of hostilities to be consumed in endless discussion under cover of which Luna's army could be reorganized, he had not only failed to secure the desired armistice, but had come back with the opinion that it might after all be advisable to accept the government proposed by the United States.

On May 22 General Luna ordered his arrest and trial for being in favour of the autonomy of the United States in the Philippine Islands.

He was tried promptly, the prosecuting witness being another officer of Luna's staff who had accompanied him to Manila and acted as a spy upon his movements (P.I.R., 285.