The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-08-06
We ARE NEUTRAL.
Tho United States Have Not Joined
Other Powers In Keeping Ports Opet

THO United States Have Not Joined the
Other Powers In Keeping Ports Open.
WASHINGTON. August ga strong
denial Is entered at tho state depart
mont Of tho published story that tho
United Statos has or will enter into a
treaty with European powora to forcl.
bly, occupy and keep open Tho treaty
ports In China. II Is also denied that
any overtures to that cnd-have como to
US from other countries.
Members OF tho senate committee on
foreign affairs say that II treaty 10 to
DO signed by all tho powers, such ne is
described, II will necessarily have to DO
ratified BY tho senate. No proposition
has been made to tho senate concern.
ing treaty ports in Japan and China
It 10 also said that treaty Of tho kind
would DO liable to meet with a great
doal OF opposition, as tbs considered by
many senators to DO In tho line OF on.
tangline foreign alliances and contrary
to the policy OF this country.
When the conditions were such that
war was only threatened tho United
States did use i;s good Offices TO avert
the evil. It did so to carry out a solemn
Obligation imposed upon US by tho
treaty OF Korea, whereby we bound
ourselves TO protect Korea in tho follow
ing terms: III other powers deal un.
Justly or opprcssivcly with either gov
eminent, the other will exert their
good officer on being informed OF tho
case, to bring about an amicablc ar
ment, thus showing their friendly feel
ings."
This obligation was entered into in
1882, and II was undor It's terms that
tho President indicated to Japan that
he would bo paincd should she infliCt
an unjust war upon Korea. That was
as far as tho United States could go In
tho exercise OF our good offices, aud DO.
sides, tho shifting OF tho war cloud
from Korea to China relieved 10 OF tho
necessity for further action.
1t Is anid ut the state department that
the attitude OF the United statos toward
tho bclligerGuts in tho present war will
BIO patterned upon our course at Rio.
We will side with neither China nor
Japan, but, Ns was indicated by Mr..
Bayard, our ambassador TO GTeat
Britain, who Is fully aware OF what 10
going on, the attitude OF tho United
will BIO one Of "bcnovolont neutrality"
As far as our own commerce Is con.
cernod, We will accord it such measure
Of protection and immunity from inter
ference as may DO justly claimed as our
rights. but the rrescnt disposition At
tho state department is to do this indi.
vidually, or not in concert with Euro.
pOan nations.
Al present We arc hardly in a posi-.
ton 10 make much OF a naval demon.
stration in Asiatic waters. Tho ontirO
United States Noot tlcro now consists Of
two vessels, tho Baltimore and tho Mo.
nucacy. About wcolS ago orders were
sent to Bphring Sea to have tho Concord
and tho Petrol sOnt over aud join tho
station, md that Is all that has
been donc in that direction 40 far. Soc.
rotary Herbert, before leaving Wash.
ington for Alabama last night, said that
llo had given no further orders for re.
Inducements. aud Acting Secretary Nc.
Adoo has not moved in tho matter to-
day.
Tho ontIro fleet Of four vessels, thrco
cruiser and littlO Vunboat, and ono Of
tho cruisers, nm antiquatOd old craft,
would DO puny and insignificant when
compared with either tho Chinese or
Japanese tloolS. Tho possibility OF sub.
Btantially strengthening our China floct
within q reasonable time, moreover, Ia
rather remote. Tho available vessels