December 21, 1898
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE
Washington,
General Otis,
Manila:
Answering your message of December 14, the President directs that you send necessary troops to Iloilo to preserve the peace and protect life and property. It is most important that there should be no conflict with the insurgents. Be conciliatory, but firm.
By order of the Secretary War:
CORBIN.
William McKinley, Executive Order Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/205921