--- title: 'Notice of Justice: Aguinaldo''s decree of 3 August 1900 paying ''imperialist soldiers'' for surrendered rifles' url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/aguinaldo-decree-imperialist-soldiers-1900/ description: A handwritten English-language decree in Emilio Aguinaldo's name, mounted on a woven bamboo board and found hung on a fence on Panay, offers eighty… section: Collection --- [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/) **Content note:** Wartime decree from the Philippine-American War calling US soldiers 'imperialist soldiers' and offering money for surrendered rifles. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) [![Notice of Justice: Aguinaldo's decree of 3 August 1900 paying 'imperialist soldiers' for surrendered rifles](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/aguinaldo-decree-imperialist-soldiers-1900.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/aguinaldo-decree-imperialist-soldiers-1900.jpg) # Notice of Justice: Aguinaldo's decree of 3 August 1900 paying 'imperialist soldiers' for surrendered rifles A handwritten English-language decree in Emilio Aguinaldo's name, mounted on a woven bamboo board and found hung on a fence on Panay, offers eighty dollars a rifle to 'imperialist soldiers' who surrender and twenty dollars to those who come over with arms. The label for its addressees, and a preamble about breaking 'the hard chain of slavery' and bringing 'happiness and prosperity', are the tells. - **Date:** August 3, 1900 - **Period:** [Pre-1914](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#era=pre-1914) - **Made by:** Emilio Aguinaldo, President of the Philippine Republic and commander of its army (guerrilla-phase decree) - **Region:** [Southeast Asia](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#region=southeast-asia) - **Country:** [First Philippine Republic](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#country=first-philippine-republic) - **Medium:** [Document](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#medium=document) - **Issuer type:** [State](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#actor=state) - **Regime:** [First Philippine Republic](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#regime=first-philippine-republic) - **Leader:** [Emilio Aguinaldo](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#leader=emilio-aguinaldo) - **Audience:** [Enemy forces](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#audience=enemy-forces) - **Purpose:** [Mobilize or secure compliance](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#purpose=mobilize-comply) - **Themes:** [War and the military](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#theme=war-military), [Empire and colonialism](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#theme=empire-colonialism) - **Event:** [Philippine American War](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#event=philippine-american-war) - **Techniques:** [Name-calling](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/name-calling/) [Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/) - **Source:** Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are - **Source:** [Wikimedia Commons (Smithsonian Institution photograph AHB2009q13015)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aguinaldo_Decree_of_August_3,_1900.jpg), retrieved September 29, 2026 - **Rights:** Public domain (1900 document; Commons tag PD-old-70-expired) Emilio Aguinaldo, 1900; Smithsonian Institution photograph AHB2009q13015, via Wikimedia Commons ## Text on the object Original (Multiple (English, with a Spanish endorsement)) · read from the image, not independently checked ``` Notice of Justice.= Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy, President of the Philippine Republic, Captain General and Commander in chief of his Army.= Being now in the second half of the year ending the XIX century, and wishing to bid a solemn and worthy adieu to this century of the lights, in which we succeeded in breaking the hard chain of slavery; have proclaimed the independence of the Country; have taken a solemn oath to support our National Constitution; have promulgated the Unitary Republic of the Philippines with a Government of our own and wishing also to duly salute the incoming century that it may be the bearer of news that will inundate with happiness and prosperity this our unfortunate but fertile and vigorous land: In consideration of the present circumstances and in virtue of the faculties with which I am invested, I Order and Command.= Act. 1st. Confirming my last order, every prisioner of war whatever, at present in the (Philippine Military) hands of the Guerrillas will be immediately liberated and freed from all compromising promises after surrending their arms and ammunition. Facilities will be given them for their lines and sufficient money for their journey to the nearest place.= Act. 2nd. All imperialist soldiers that fall prisioners or surrender will receive from the Philippine Military Authorities eighty dollars for every rifle. They will be well and considerately treated, and will be given immediate liberty with the assistance mentioned in Act. 1st. If they should wish to remain in the place they will enjoy the benefits of the following article.= Act. 3rd. All imperialist soldiers who present themselves to any of the Guerrillas will receive twenty dollars from the corresponding Commander of the Guerrillas for every rifle with ammunition they deliver, noting that they are not invited, nor will any one be permitted to enter our ranks. If they wish to stay in the territory they will live separately being maintained by the inhabitants of the place and under the safeguard and protection of the nearest Guerrilla.= Act. 4th. and last. From this date the Commanders in Chief of the Guerrillas in their respective districts will take note and give the strictest compliance to the present Decree, keeping a book in which to enter the name and rank of those to whom the above article may refer, and the signatures of those who have received the money paid for the rifle and ammunition delivered.= By this Decree, all former decrees in any way opposed to this are cancelled.= Given in the office of the Captain General this third day of August of the year one thousand nine hundred.= Emilio Aguinaldo.= Rubricado.= Hay un sello que dice.= Gobierno dictatorial.= Filipinas. Es copia El Gral. Jefe P. M. [signature illegible] [round stamp lower left, partly legible: JEFATURA SUP[...] CUARTEL GRAL[...]] ``` English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader) ``` The English text above is already in English. The Spanish endorsement reads, in literal translation: 'Rubricated. There is a seal that says: Dictatorial Government. Philippines.' and, beneath, 'It is a copy. The General, Chief of P. M. [signature illegible]'. The round stamp reads, in part, 'Superior Headquarters ... General Headquarters ...'. ``` Handwritten in cursive on paper with torn edges. Spelling is as written ('prisioner', 'surrending'). The first line begins with an ornate initial read as 'Notice'; the Smithsonian record title supports it. A few edge words are torn and were read from context. 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