MANILA, P. I., March 6, 1902.

General MIGUEL MALVAR.

GENERAL: I have never doubted that the Filipinos who were fighting against the Americans, or were carrying on and encouraging this war in any manner whatsoever, were working in good faith; therefore, since I have recognized American sovereignty I have been convinced that in her, our country could obtain more positive benefits. I have succeeded in implanting this conviction in the hearts of my countrymen who believed otherwise and am able to tell them that my labors in behalf of peace have always produced a happy result. Certainly this happy result cannot be attributed to my ability, but because God has permitted that I might be able easily to demonstrate this to those who are under my direction, who were in error, and to show them that true patriotism consists in immediately ceasing the war and uniting under the American flag for the re-establishment of order, justice and true liberty, and therefore for the happiness and progress of the Philippines.

In following my program of work in pointing out the truth of this policy to those who I believe were ignorant of it, I was some days ago in the neighboring port of Hong Kong where I communicated with Srs. Galicano Apacible, Sixto López and other Filipinos, who, as we believe here, are the most obstinate partisans of war to the end. Speaking with them personally I learned that they do not favor the war, that they believe that peace is necessary, and Señor Sixto López made to me the following declarations:

1. That he, as a Filipino, is in favor of peace, since without it no concession whatever from the Government at Washington can be hoped for: therefore he believes that the more quickly peace comes the more quickly also will come the promised concessions to the Filipino nation.

2 That before the outbreak of hostilities I transmitted this same opinion to Senor Aguinaldo because I believed that my ideals were in opposition to those held by Aguinaldo and Agoncillo as well as by some of those who formed the Hong Kong committee from whom I was completely separated.

Senor Galicano Apacible has made similar declarations to me, and judging from what I have heard from all of them, I am sure that they are completely ignorant of what is taking place in the Philippines, as they receive from here false and misleading news, and that they have no exact idea of what the Filipinos desire, or what the condition of the Filipinos is, or the attitude of the civil and military American authorities in the Archipelago. Neither do they know your condition there in the mountains, for they imagine that you go from triumph to triumph, defeating the Americans, who, only with large forces, are able to remain in Batangas.

I suppose that it would be very natural that you should be mistaken with respect to that which occurs in the Philippines and that it would be useful and also agreeable to you to know the true situation of the country. The best means to this end would be an interview, for which I am ready. I know perfectly what has happened in our country and that which is happening; I have been the means of causing many influential generals to submit to authority by a very simple means, recognized by the whole world, but unfortunately little used in these days in our country. This consists in telling the truth, and nothing more than the truth. Some believe it is difficult to distinguish between false news and true news. When you hear the truth from my lips, or from the lips of others, I am sure that you will know how to distinguish it from the stories which many have sent you, some for the purpose of flattery and some through ignorance. I have not the time, and I do not believe you have, to write long letters or to read them, and therefore I do not go further, And being sure that in the struggle which you are conducting is actuated solely by patriotism, I am sure that you will take much interest in listening to me, as great or greater perhaps than that which I take in fulfilling my duty by going to you and giving you the faithful echo of occurrences in the Philippines.

I await your answer. Wishing you good health I send you my respectful salutations.

(Signed) ARTURO DANCEL.