The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-29
THE HOUR
At HAND

official no asked 10 be excused from dis
cussing the war situation. and was very
r%eticent concerning his prospective APP
pointment as major-general.
The French Embassy has received a ca
bic dispatch from the Foreign Office at
Paris. announcing that a decree of neu-
trality between the United States and
Spain had been issued. and that a detailed
copy would be forwarded by mail. Tn
cable notice Is brief. stating only that the
decree follows the treaty Of Paris Of 1S5o.
The state Department was advised. Inc
department has also been informed that
Mexico. Argentine Republic, Korea ana
Belgium have proclaimed neutrality. 40
rea's neutrality Is considered important,
owing TO her proximity TO the Philippines.
GERMANY STILL SILENT.
The state Department has heard noun
INK from Germany. but ms causes NJ
apprehension. owing 20 me strong assut,,
ances Germany has given mat sne WI
observe strict neutrality between the Two
belligereuts. Germany, Austria ana for-
tugal are the last Of the important Euro
pean nations 10 declare their attitude.
The apprehension as 10 Portugal $
course was clearly removed to-day by the
call Of Niscount De S~anto-Ihyrso. VINO
gave strong assurances 20 the Stale Dt-
rlrtmert that Portugal would remain
strictly neutral. The Portuguese Minister
expects the official declaration almost
hourly. Although Portugal explains her
deiay on the ground that the declaration
Of wdr was not made until the -4Jh IN
slant. vet Great Britain declared. ueu-
trsltv with Unusual prOmDtnesS. Ine ell
feet Of Great Britain's speedy action was
90 force the United states fleet 20 leave
Hong kon-. while the effect or Portu-
gals delay has been 10 permit the span
ish feet 10 remain az the Cape Verde
Islands. Thus speedy action In the hrst
case was harmful 20 American interests.
while delayed action in the Second case
was equally harmful 10 American III
~terests.
AUSTRIA's DECISION AWAITED.
Attention is now being conferred on the
course of Austria. Her delay in declaring
neutrality causes no material iucOnveni-
onCe. as Austria has no ports at whlch
Spanish ships can take refuge, but 10 as
closes that Austria strong tendencies
are with Spain. owing TO the dynastic
relations between the thrones or Austfla
and Spain.
Foreign governments. through their rep
resentatlvos in Washington, are beginning
To show much concern over that feature
of the war tariff bill now before Congress
which Increases the tOunaEe tax on rams
Atlantic shipping 20 20 cents per ton. 10
is said this increase is about 500 per cent.
the present rate being about : cents per
ton. and that nearly the entire burden
Of 500 per cent. increase falls on the
transatlantic shipping of Great Britain.
Germany. France and one or two other
commercial nations.
Thus far. however. no official action has
been taken on the subject by foreign ma
tons. and 70 does not seem likely that
such official action rs possible. as the
heavy tonnage tax b. considered q war
eXpedient. which foreign shipping must
There arc limitations. however. that II
may have the effect Of diverting shipping
away from American ports 10 Halifax,
Montreal and other Canadian ports.