Felipe Agoncillo's Memorial to the Senate of the United States protests the U.S. ignoring the independence aspirations of the Filipino people. Agoncillo argues that the U.S. acquisition of the Philippines from Spain through the Treaty of Paris was illegitimate because Spain had already lost control over the islands. He cites precedents in international law and from America's own founders to argue that the U.S. should recognize Philippine independence, as Spain was no longer able to govern the islands effectively. Agoncillo was a prominent Filipino diplomat and advocate for independence who represented Emilio Aguinaldo in negotiations leading to the Treaty of Paris.

1. Felipe Agoncillo’s Memorial to the Senate of the United
States in Protest of the Action of the United States
Ignoring the Indepedence Aspirations of the Filipinos

2. Agoncillo’s Memorial to the Senate of
the United States is a book written by
Filipino historian Teodoro Agoncillo. The
book is a history of the Philippines from
the time of the country's independence
from Spain in 1898 to the present day.
• What is Agoncillo’s Memorial to the Senate of the United States ?

3. The action of the United States ignoring the
independence aspirations of the Filipinos is an act of
disrespect and condescension towards the people of
the Philippines. This act also runs contrary to the
principles of democracy and self-determination,
which are supposed to be upheld by the United
States.
• What is the Action of the United States Ignoring the Indepedence
Aspirations of the Filipinos

4. Felipe Agoncillo, an outstanding Filipino diplomat-lawyer
was Emilio Aguinaldo’s representative to the negotiations
in Paris that led to the Treaty of Paris ending the Spanish-
American War. He was admired for his strong sense of
nationalism. He was a family friend and adviser of Emilio
Aguinaldo and Antonio
• Agoncillo was a strong advocate for Philippine independence from
Spanish colonial rule. He was an important figure in the negotiations
that led to the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish-American
War and resulted in the independence of the Philippines. Agoncillo
was a close friend and advisor to Emilio Aguinaldo and Antonio Luna,
and was highly respected for his dedication to the cause of Philippine
independence.

5. The peace commissioners on September 12, 1898,
American officials had fully recognized and had
communicated to their Government the fact that it was
no longer possible for Spain, under any circumstances to
regain possession of the Philippines; a point most
essential to be considered in determining whether a new,
independent nation should be recognized.

6. “The Spanish Government is completely
demoralized, and Spanish power is dead, beyond
the possibility of resurrection. Spain would be
unable to govern these islands if we surrender
them.”
• The Spanish government is in complete disarray and no
longer has the power to govern these islands. If we were
to surrender them, Spain would be unable to effectively
govern them

7. In the further discussion of the question whether the
American Government could acquire any right in the
Philippines from Spain by treaty, I am fortunately able to
invite your attention to several notable and exact
American precedents, and I could ask for my country no
better fortune than to have the republic of America, as at
present constituted, adhere to the teachings of
international laws as laid down by some of its founders, to
whom we appeal with utmost confidence.

8. “Spain was expressly bound to have delivered up the
possession she had taken within the limits of Georgia
(during the Revolutionary Wars as an ally of the United
States) to Great Britain. If they were conquests in Great
Britain, who was to deliver them over to the United
States; or rather, she should have delivered them to to the
United States themselves, as standing quad hoc in the
place of Great Britain.