Meanwhile, on May 4, we had laid before the President a plan of
government informally discussed with Arguelles, and had received the
following reply, authorizing, in substance, what we had suggested:--
"Washington, May 5, 1899, 10.20 P.M.
"Schurman, Manila:
"Yours 4th received. You are authorized to propose that
under the military power of the President, pending action of
Congress, government of the Philippine Islands shall consist of a
governor-general, appointed by the President; cabinet, appointed by the
governor-general; a general advisory council elected by the people; the
qualifications of electors to be carefully considered and determined;
the governor-general to have absolute veto. Judiciary strong and
independent; principal judges appointed by the President. The cabinet
and judges to be chosen from natives or Americans, or both, having
regard to fitness. The President earnestly desires the cessation
of bloodshed, and that the people of the Philippine Islands at an
early date shall have the largest measure of local self-government
consistent with peace and good order.
"_Hay_." [452]
Our proclamation of April 4, 1899, was also taken up at their request
and was gone over minutely, sentence by sentence. We were asked to
explain certain expressions which they did not fully understand.
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