He tried to play it himself by cabling Senator Hoar, on the same day, that as the man who introduced General Aguinaldo to the American government through the consul at Singapore he was prepared to swear that the conditions under which Aguinaldo promised to cooperate with Dewey were independence under a protectorate.

[40] Let us now trace Aguinaldo's subsequent movements, and see what promises, if any, were made to him by Wildman and Dewey.

He had returned to Hongkong with two companions, all travelling under assumed names.

Only his most trusted friends among the members of the junta were at first allowed to know where he was living.
His situation was a difficult one.

It was necessary for him to come to some sort of a temporary arrangement with Artacho, if he was to avoid legal difficulties, and to reestablish himself with some of his companions, who had accused him of deserting with the intention of going to Europe to live on money which belonged to them.