MAXILOM DECREE, MARCH 14, 1900

Exhibit 1408 .

[Original in Spanish. D.S. P.I.R., 1126.2.]

MARCH 14, 1900.

The Military Headquarters of this province having observed that the movements of the invaders, that is to say of the Americans, is to catechise you in order to implant and even enforce the recognition to-morrow of the sovereignty of America, and that an endeavor is being made to secure the friendship of all the towns, and that by deceiving the people as to their policy and by the means of gold and false promises, they believe they can attract all the people. It is unnecessary to remind you of what took place during the first days with regard to their contracts and promises, none of which were kept to the great sorrow of our brothers in Luzon, making enemies of them. According to the law of Humanity they should be our brothers, but up to the present time they still continue to make us false promises and deny all that we have asked, which is liberty, or, with just reason, independence. For which reason as the Superior Military Commander, in charge of the command of the province, although unworthily called General in Chief of Operations of this Island of Cebu, it is my duty to communicate to you that when the Civil Commission of the United States which according to reliable information is accompanied by a former Filipino, a celebrated lawyer, Seņor Llorente, arrives for the purpose of establishing a civil government, which is the beginning of our slavery and of the entire province, all Filipinos of Cebu shall observe the following rules:

1· The presidentes of all towns who subscribe to and recognize American sovereignty, shall be pursued by all the revolutionists without mercy

and when captured shall be sent to these Headquarters for a most summary trial and execution as traitors to the country.

2. All Filipino citizens, including the wealthy, of the towns, are subject to the preceding regulation.

3. It shall be the duty of the revolutionary armies with regard to the towns which shall recognize or intend to recognize such sovereignty, to destroy the town or towns and without any consideration whatsoever to kill all males, even the poorest, and set fire to all the houses, without respecting any property excepting that of foreigners. And in order that hereafter such misfortunes may not occur, as chief of this province, I warn all the Presidentes and wealthy people of each town to help us as Filipinos as we are your brothers fighting here in the field to give liberty to our mother country and woe to the traitor who falls into the hands of this revolutionary government, which will strictly carry out all the prescriptions above.mentioned.

As the government which the invaders are endeavoring to establish is always provisional, if all the inhabitants of this province are true Filipinos, they can easily and simply answer that We are subject to the will of the Honorable President Seņor Emilio Aguinaldo, whom we follow and recognize in this new born Republic as the President of the Nation.

This is all that I can say to you, and would that you open your eyes and continue awake, although I have seen with pleasure through the small assistance which you send, that you are loyal, and your help has been received with gratitude and pleasure by all those in the field, but I suspect or fear always that some one will go astray, but with union we shall be able to secure the liberty of our mother country and we shall be free like other nations.

Acknowledge receipt hereof.

God preserve you many years.

HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD (CUARTEL GENERAL AMBULANTE), March 14, 1900.

(Signed) MAXILOM
General in Chief.