To be again in the hands of Spain will mean a long and bloody war, and it is doubtful whether the end will be favourable to us...

Spain free from Cuba and her other colonies will employ her energy to crush us and will send here the 150,000 men she has in Cuba." [86] Apacible thought that the best thing was independence under an American protectorate.
On August 7, 1898, Aguinaldo warned Agoncillo that in the United States he should "not accept any contracts or give any promises respecting protection or annexation, because we will see first if we can obtain independence." [87] Even annexation to the United States was not excluded by Aguinaldo from the possible accepted solutions, for in outlining the policy of the Philippine government to Sandico on August 10, 1898, he wrote:-- "The policy of the government is as follows: 1st.

To struggle for the independence of 'the Philippines' as far as our strength and our means will permit.

Protection or annexation will be acceptable only when it can be clearly seen that the recognition of our Independence, either by force of arms or diplomacy, is impossible." [88] On August 26, 1898, Aguinaldo was still ready to consider annexation if necessary.

[89] He was apparently not sanguine at this time as to the result of a continued struggle with Spain.