Today in history: Americans offer surrender conditions to Aguinaldo

Mabini asks Aguinaldo for instructions: independence or autonomy? Now that McKinley won the election.

Mabini, an illustration to mark his sesqucentennial

Simeon Villa was the personal physician of Emilio Aguinaldo, and a Colonel in the Philippine Army (and father of the poet José Garcia Villa). In his diary for March 7, 1901, he records,

The honorable dictator received a letter from Señor Apolinario Mabini, dated the 22d of November, 1900, transmitting messages from the American generals, MacArthur and Bell, to the effect that our independence can not be conceded, and that the honorable dictator may retire to Manila under conditions of his having to live at the palace in Malacañang with MacArthur.

As to himself, Señor Mabini inquires of the honorable dictator whether he will have to advocate independence or autonomy, seeing that McKinley is already reelected.