Series  A.     250,000  Bonds  of  /KK)  pts.  =  125  millions
Series  B.     750,000     „      „  100    „    «    75        „
First  issue  of  100  millions  A  at  92  per  cent  was  made  on  July  15,  1897*


542  Further  efforts  to  release  the  prisoners

E.  S.  Otis  objected  to  the  proposed  proceeding  on  the  ground  that  it
would  compromise  the  dignity  of  America.  But  General  Jaramillo
still  persisted  in  his  project,  and  after  a  lapse  of  three  days  he  again
addressed  a  note  on  the  subject  to  General  E.  S.  Otis,  from  whom  he
received  another  negative  reply.  On  September  5  General  Jaramillo
informed  General  Otis  that  the  prisoners  were  concentrated  in  the  ports
named  in  the  insurgents'*  decree,  and  solicited  permission  to  send  a  vessel
flying  the  Red  Cross  flag  to  receive  them.  Three  days  afterwards
General  Otis  replied  that  a  recognition  of  Aguinaldo'*s  pretension  to
designate  certain  ports  for  the  Spaniards'  embarkation  would  be  not
only  humiliating  but  ridiculous.  Furthermore,  he  was  expecting  rein-
forcements shortly,  with  which  peace  would  be  assured  and  all  the  ports
re-opened,  and  then  America  would  co-operate  for  the  liberty  of
the  prisoners.  General  Jaramillo  replied  to  this  communication  by
addressing  to  General  Otis  a  lengthy  philosophical  epistle  on  the
principles  involved  in  the  question,  but  as  General  Otis  did  not  care  to
continue  the  correspondence.  General  Jaramillo  sought  to  bring  pressure
on  him  by  notifying  him  that  the  s.s.  P.  de  Satr&sUgui  would  be
detained  48  hours  in  order  to  learn  his  decision  as  to  whether  that
vessel  could  call  for  the  prisoners.  As  General  Otis  did  not  reply  within
the  prescribed  period  General  Jaramillo  went  to  see  him  personally  and
ineflectually  opened  his  heart  to  him  in  very  energetic  terms,  whidi
General  Otis  complacently  tolerated  but  persisted  in  his  negative
resolution,  and  the  interview  ended  with  the  suggestion  that  Greneral
Jaramillo  should  obtain  Aguinaldo's  consent  for  a  vessel  carrying  the
American  flag  to  enter  the  ports  and  bring  away  the  prisoners.
