The Fuss about the 1899 Edition of John Foreman's book, "The Philippines"

“The first edition of this book (The Philippine Islands by John Foreman) originally appeared in 1890 printed by the firm of Kelly & Walsh of Hongkong, and reprinted two years later in London. A second edition, revised and enlarged, was issued in 1899, and this has an interesting story. In the first impression of the edition, there appeared certain statements in regard to the relations of Edward Spencer Pratt, the United States Consul-General in Singapore, with General Emilio Aguinaldo which were objected to by that consular official. Pratt brought court action against the publishers of the book, won the case and its Shanghai publisher fined and ordered to withdraw from sale all copies of the book. As a result of the case, the author deleted the materials objected to - pages 567 and 568 in the first impression - necessitating the issuance of a second impression without the offending statements. It seems that the offending passage attributed to Pratt statements that he had inveigled Aguinaldo into returning to Manila to collaborate with Commodore Dewey on the consul's assurance that the United States would allow the Filipinos to gain their independence.

T. H. Pardo de Tavera, creole scholar in his Biblioteca Filipina, believed that it was Consul Rounseville Wildman of Hongkong who deceived Aguinaldo and who claimed that Foreman's documents "were false and a calumny on the American government." Significantly, the names of Pratt and Wildman do not appear in the 1906 edition. Pardo also believed that Foreman later took the vows of a priest in the Augustinian convent in Mexico.” (Foreman[1980], xi-xii)

Portions of the modified pages 567-568 of Foreman's book read as follows:

"Emilio Aguinaldo and suite went to Singapore, where they found Mr. Howard W. Bray, an Englishman and old personal friend of mine, who had resided some years in the Islands. Aguinaldo and his party were obliged to travel incognito, because secret paid agents were on his track to endeavour to fetter his movements, and in Singapore a Malay police sergeant was illegally employed to investigate the private acts of a Filipino. The editor of the Singapore Free Press and Mr. Bray had become acquainted. The editor introduced Mr. Bray to the American Consul-General, Mr. Spencer Pratt, and Mr. Bray presented Emilio Aguinaldo to the Consul-General. The midnight meeting of the above-named four persons took place at " The Mansion," River Valley Road, Singapore, on the 24th of April, the day following the outbreak of AmericanSpanish hostilities. The original idea in making Aguinaldo and the Consul-General known to each other was to utilize Aguinaldo's services and prestige with the armed natives to control them and prevent reprisals when the American forces should appear before Manila. It was hoped that, in this way, the lives of many Spaniards in the Islands would be spared. The result of this Singapore meeting was that a draft Agreement between Consul-General Pratt and Emilio Aguinaldo was drawn up, subject to the approval of Commodore Dewey and subsequent confirmation from Washington. The essence of this provisional understanding was as follows, viz.:-

(1.) Philippine Independence to be proclaimed.
(2.) A Federal Republic to be established by vote of the rebels; pending the taking of this vote Aguinaldo was to appoint the members of that Government.
(3.) The Federal Republic to recognize a temporary intervention of American and European Administrative Commissions to be appointed by Commodore Dewey.
(4.) The American Protectorate to be recognized on the same terms as those fixed for Cuba.
(5.) Philippine ports to be open to all the world.
(6.) Precautionary measures to be adopted against the influx of Chinese.
(7.) The existing judicial system to be reformed.
(8.) Liberty of the press and right of assembly to be proclaimed.
(9.) Ample tolerance of all religions and sects, but abolition and expulsion of all monastic orders. (10.) Measures to be adopted for working up the natural resources of the Archipelago.
(11.) The wealth of the country to be developed by the construction of high roads and railways.
(12.) The obstacles operating against the development of enterprises and employment of foreign capital to be removed.
(13.) The new Government to preserve public order and check all reprisals against the Spaniards. (14.) Spanish officials to be transported to another safe and healthy island until there shall be an opportunity for their return to Spain.
(15.) This Agreement is subject to ratification (by telegraph) by Commodore Dewey and President MacKinley.

Consul-General Pratt thereupon sent Emilio Aguinaldo with his staff to Hongkong with instructions to Consul Wildman to put him in communication with Commodore Dewey, which he did, and Commodore Dewey, before he left China for Manila, gave orders to Consul Wildman to see that Aguinaldo and his staff followed on in an American warship." (Foreman[1899], 567-568)]