The herald., 1898-04-29

laration of neutrality. Germany. Austria
and Portugal are the last of the important
European nations to declare their attitude.
Portugaps Course
The apprehension as to Portugal's course
was considerably removed today by the call
of Viscount de Santo Thyrso. who gave as
surances to the state department that Por-
tugal would remain strictly neutral. The
Portuguese minister expects the official
declaration almost hourly. Although Por-
tugal explains her delay on the ground tina.
the declaration of war was not made until
the 24th inst, yet Great Britain declared
neutrality with unusual promptness. The
effect of Great Britain's speedy action was
to force the United States to leave Hong
kong, while the effect of PortugaPs delay
has been to permit the Spanish fleet to re-
main at the Cape Verde islands. This
speedy action in the first case was harmful
to American interests while delayed ac-
ton on the second case was equally harm-
full for American interests.
Attention is now being centered on the
course of Austria.
Her delay in declaring neutrality causes
no material Inconvenience, as Austria has
no port at which Spanish ships can take
refuge, but it discloses that Austria's
strong tendencies are with Spain. owing
to the dynastic relations between the
thrones of Austria and Spain.
The War Tariff
Foreign governments, through their rep
resentatives in Washington, are beginning
to show much concern over that feature Of
the war tariff bill now before congress
which increases the tonnage tax on Trans
II, CHI m NC n Ia
said this increase Is about 800 per cent, the
present rate being about 8 cents per ton,
and that nearly the entire burden Of the
800 per cent falls upon the Transatlantic
ships of Great Britain, Germany. France
and or one two other commercial nations.
A leading diplomatic official stated today
that, roughly speaking, the Atlantic trade
was carried on by about 100 American
steamships and about 1000 British, French,
German and other foreign steamships; also
that the heavy tonnage tax would be prac-
tically insignificant as against American
steamships, while it would be very onerous
against foreign shipping. A Transatlantic
liner of 10000 tons, he said, would pay 70
cents per ton, or $4,000. every time 1t en-
tered an American port.
Thus far, however, no official action has
been taken on the subject by foreign ma
tions, and it does not seem likely that such
official action is possible, as the heavy ton
mage tax is caused by war expedient,
which foreign shipping must bear so long
as they use American ports. There are in
timations, however, that 1t may have the
effect of dverting shipping away from the
American ports to Halifax, Montreal and
other Canadian ports.
In other respects, the war tariff bill at
tracts little attention in foreign quarters,
as the main increase of taxation is on arti-
cles of domestic consumption, while duties
on foreign imports remain practically un-
changed.
Attack on Matanzas
The shelling of the Matanzas batteries
was the topic of absorbing interest
throughout naval and official circles gen.
orally today. 1t was discussed on the
basis of the press reports from Key West,
as the navy department received no infor-
nation whatever on the subject. Secretary
Long said at o'clock this afternoon, as he
closed up his official work for the day,
that no report had been received from Ad-
miral Sampson, nor was the navy depart
ment advised in any way of the sheling
of Matanzas.
Mr.. Long added that he felt no DISPOSE
ton to keep from the public any news con-
cerning such an important event as naval
engagement or a battle While 1t was es-
sential that future strategic moves should
be guarded with the greatest care, yet Mr..
Long made it clear that this did not apply
to events If they had actually occurred,
for, as to battles and their attendant cas-
ualties, he recognized that the public was
entitled to know what had occurred. The
secretary said that, in the absence Of all
Information, he was inclined to think that
the shelling was confined to the exchange
of a few shots and did not assume the pro-
portions of a regular bombardment When
his attention was directed to reports that
the shelling was the result of direct orders
from the president, the secretary said this
was. not so, as the president was giving
no direct orders on any of these move
ments.
,rIa fo,