CHAPTER III.
Insurgent "Cooeperation" I have previously [72] called attention to the minutes of a session of the Hongkong junta held on May 4, 1898, from which it indirectly appears that the Filipino leaders at that time hoped to secure arms at the expense of the Americans and purposed to attack them later if it seemed advisable.
The treacherous policy then outlined was never departed from by Aguinaldo and his associates, who sailed for Manila with their eyes wide open, knowing full well that they had been promised nothing; prepared to match their wits against those of Admiral Dewey, and intent on deceiving him and on securing from him arms to be used first against the Spaniards and later against the Americans, after they had been employed to help bring about the downfall of Spain.
There exists a significant circular signed "J.M.B." [73] believed to have been an outright forgery, both from its tenor and from the fact that the signature "J.M.B." is not in the handwriting of Basa's letter hereinbefore quoted.
It contains the following statements:-- "The true patriots have organized a committee to which I belong, naming Aguinaldo as President and Agoncillo as Vice-President.

The latter and three others have commenced diplomatic negotiations with the Admiral and American Consul, and we infer that they are trying to make colonies of us, although they said they would give us independence.

The Committee deemed it advisable to simulate belief, at the same time equipping ourselves with arms.
"We have accepted arms offered by the Admiral which will be disembarked in the Philippines by the squadron.
"A part of our forces will aid the Americans by fighting with them in order to conceal our real intentions, and part will be held in reserve.

If America triumphs and proposes a colony, we shall reject such offer and rise in arms.
"A separate expedition will disembark at whatever point may be considered suitable.
"Jose Alejandrino embarked with the American squadron in order to give secret instructions to the Chiefs.
"Be very cautious about this exceedingly delicate point; you will communicate with prudent and intelligent chiefs who will recognize the gravity of the subject." [74] Here, then, in a faked-up letter on which Basa's initials were forged in order to gain the prestige of his name for this treacherous plan, we have definitely set forth the purpose of the Filipinos to deceive the Americans by allowing a part of the Insurgent force to fight with them, and then to attack them.
Reference has already been made to Agoncillo's advice to Aguinaldo, given under date of August 26, 1898, to the effect that friendly relations should be maintained with the Americans until the diplomatic negotiations at Paris should end; that an effort should be made to find out the future status of the islands "by deceitful means," and that confidence should never be put in the Americans.
Aguinaldo put the whole matter in a nutshell in a postscript to this letter, saying:-- "You should issue an order commanding that all our chiefs should employ a policy of friendship toward the Americans until our status is defined; but said order should be confidentially given.

Try to mislead them." [75] Bray also very strongly advised awaiting the results of the Paris conference.