He did not dare discipline General Pio del Pilar, nor remove him from the vicinity of Manila, and the soldiers of that officer continued to work their will on their own unfortunate and helpless people.
Aguinaldo at first flatly refused to direct the disorderly Insurgent forces to leave Manila.

The American commander showed great forbearance and negotiations continued.
On August 16, 1898, the Diplomatic Commission (Buencamino and Gregorio Araneta) telegraphed Aguinaldo that a clause in a proposed agreement requiring prior permission of Insurgent officers before American troops could pass or approach their lines had greatly displeased General Anderson who declined to treat until after the withdrawal of Noriel's troops from Manila.

[174] Aguinaldo's reply, sent on August 17, 1898, shows that he had alreadymade up his mind to fight the Americans, for it contains the following significant words: "The conflict is coming sooner or later and we shall gain nothing by asking as favours of them what are really our rights." [175] While negotiations were pending General Merritt sent Major J.F.Bell to Aguinaldo with a letter and also with a memorandum in which were the words:-- "In case you find Aguinaldo inclined to be generous in his arrangements with us, you may communicate to him as follows: ..." There follow six paragraphs, of which the third is of special importance.

It reads as follows:-- "(3) That I have every disposition to represent liberally the Government at Washington, which I know is inclined to deal fairly with him and his people; but not knowing what the policy of that Government will be, I am not prepared to make any promises, except that in the event of the United States withdrawing from these islands care will be taken to leave him _in as good condition as he was found by the forces of the Government_.

[176] Relative to the italicized portion of this statement Major Bell says:-- "I was pressed to explain further just what meaning General M.meant to convey by the underscored portion of this remark, but I replied that I had repeated the language General M.had used to me, and I preferred they should seek any further explanation from him, lest I might unwittingly fall into error if I undertook to explain his meaning myself.