ESTADO FEDERAL DE BISAYAS MEETING, KABATUAN, JULY 16, 1899

Exhibit 1258.

[Original in Spanish. Contemporary copy. P. I . R., Books, B. 4. ]

KABATUAN, [PANAY] July 18th, 1899.

I Francisco Soriano y Guzman, General Secretary of the Federal State of the Visayan Islands, do hereby certify:

That in the minute book of this Government there appears an entry which reads as follows:

MINUTES.

Presidential Headquarters, town of Kabatuan, July 16th, 1899. Present, the Local Presidentes and their respective bodies, and the representatives of the army, all having been duly cited for this Mass Meeting. By order of the President the meeting was called to order at 5 o'clock, p.m. The President then took the floor and reminded those present of the vote of confidence in the Government made by the Local Presidentes on the 23rd of February of this year; that he had done all in his power to show that said vote of confidence, given at so critical a moment, had not been misplaced; and that if the Government had shown itself deficient in any respect, it was not due to lack of will on its part. He then went on to state that the time had come when the people should know what use the Government had made of the confidence placed in it in dealing with military, political, and economic matters. With regard to military matters, the Government had, on the same date, recorded a vote of confidence in the General-in-chief, and that thenceforward all military matters rested exclusively in the hands of said General; that the Government was satisfied with the official conduct of said General, and that it was only the matter of the reduction of the forces that it in any way interfered with said officer; that while not desiring to reduce the force so much as to weaken our defence, yet it was necessary to reduce the same as far as possible in view of the limited funds in the treasury for the carrying on of the campaign and the probable duration of the struggle. The political attitude of the Government, he said, had not varied in the least; today, as from the start, its object was the independence of the country and absolute union with Luzon, and that it had rejected several propositions made for the reason that these conditions were not included; that the Miller proposition concerning a conference with Otis had been rejected for this reason, as had also that of the commander of an English man-of-war, and others had here and in Manila concerning the representation of this Government in peace negotiations. He also states that, as a political move on the part of the Government, the District of Concepcion had been made a Province, and that, also, Antike and Concepcion had been attached to our territory, thus forming one government organization; that these same communities were disposed to assist us with supplies of all kinds in as far as possible, and also with money and men; and, finally, that notwithstanding the strict watch kept on us, communications had passed between us and the Central Government of Luzon at Malolos, and later with Kabanatuan, requesting arms and ammunition for our army. Concerning economy, he went on, the lack of funds and food supplies had been met as best they could by what was received from the towns; hence the irregularity in the administration of military matters and consequent complaints from the various camps. This lack of funds and food supplies, he said, made our condition most critical, and hence he believed it necessary to make a change in the policy pursued up to the present. This policy had been one of delicate consideration, commencing with a notification and leading up to a simple threat. But now the time had come for a change to what might be called a policy of mild rigor, which should be authorized by a renewal by the people of the vote of confidence made in February; and that should the people refuse to do this their action should be taken as a disapproval of the policy of the Government and that the members of the same should resign their offIces permanently in consequence thereof.

The Local Presidentes in attendance, and the representatives of those thnt were absent, solemly approved and renewed the oath of confidence in the Government personnel; and on motion by Lieutenant Colonel Villanueva, all present approved by acclamation the Presidency of Sr. Jovito Yusay, and appointment of Sr. Ramon Avanceņa as Vice President.

After a lengthy discussion over the means of meeting the present crisis, the Local Presidentes promised to resign their offices and assume the title of citizens, one half to go out at the end of this month and the other the first two weeks of next month. Regarding the loan already promised the Government, the Government authorized them to enforce payment of the same from those subscribing in accordance with law.

There being no further business before the meeting, the session was closed and these minutes drawn up and signed by all present.

To all of which I, the General Secretary, certify. [Signatures follow.]

The foregoing is a true copy of the original which is on file in the Government archives, and by which this can be verified.

(Signed) FRANCISCO SORIANO,
General Secretary.