The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01
DELAY VERY . BENEFICIAL; =. 2 II .iA u1 Nj N . | II ~ n II
 IN \ .
 -: : .. d.. :.::r: :.-; = = China's= =SIown ess .in: De- elaring Neutrality a ;: Help to A nerica.
It Leaves. Ports Open Which. Dewey Can Use as a Base ]. ...."..:. ..=.:.. : Of Operations.
United States Ought to Have Gained :: .3" :. a: Coallng Station During the
 "';:' :..::.. Far East Grab.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call .Of11ce: :..Riggs House.

@ :.. Washington, April 30.
 ;. The Chinese: Minister, Wu.. ring Fang, called at the State Department to-day and. had a talk with officials
 concerning the war situation. He did
 not bring a notice of China neutral ity, nor has he received word thus far from. his. government that China will
 declare her neutrality. The authori
 ties: here would not he displeased if
 China withheld her: decree a :: month later, as such a course: might be of dis tfnct advantage to the United States
 in case Con1nodore DeWey's fleet: fails
 to effect a landing. the Philippines
 and is obliged to seek some open port With an American fleet In Astatic wa :ters the situation becomes hazardous
 unless: a belligerent port is captured or
 a neutral port remains open. Up to to-: day :: all countries occupying. Eastern *Aslatic territory had declared neutral ity, except China. The notice: of Korea,
 was given two days. ago., thus closing the port of. CShenulpo. Japan: gave mo-
 tfce to- day, thus closing all Japanese
 ports, including Yokohama, which is %tfle most advantageous harbor in .Asiatic waters, and nearer the Philip. pines. than any other port. The Brit ishT and French decrees. closed Hong kong. and ports of British India and
 French TonQuin. - " / When. Wu Ting Fang. was. seen at the
 Chinese Legation fortnight he said that, having. received no. notice of China s neutrality, he presumed n, ne had been issued by the In1periaE Government. At the Sd me: time he. had noticed press dis
 A ica f1aef left Mfrs Bay; which is a Chinese posses
 sion, owing: to a condition of neutrality.
 The: Minister believes this condition, if
 made, was given by the Viceroy and
 applies only to- the province of Canton. As to whether the. Emperor will de cree neutrality he. is not able to Say.
 It:is remembered, however, that no de- cree of, neutrality was. issued during the Fran co- PruSsian war and that
 China has not been in the habit of is
 suing neutrality decrees on. the out
 break of wars in other: parts of the
 world Now, however, -=that China is :keeping. in touch with the methods of
 international procedure this former in- action may. give way to the adoption or an attitude of. neutrality. This would have been done during. the: Franco Prussian war had not President Grant used his good offices to bring about an a1ran cement by which French: and German ships at Asiatic ports refrained from hostilities ..while there. While China entertains the most. friendly feel ing. toward the United States Wu feels that this would not justify the with holding of neutrality if .it4in any way. redounded te the advantage of the United States against Spain as that would array Spain against China
 China has a large number of treaty ports with fine harbors scattered along her: coast. They are well equipped with coal and other supplies, and any one. of them would be most advanta-
 eeouis as a harbor for the American feet In case one was. required in the far East. It is said. however, that even without a neutrality: decree by. China these harhors could not be used as naval base of operations. At: most, they could be used only for temporary refuge and for such coal and supplies as would take the American fleet to the next port.
 The authorities feel that the United States would have profited much by securing a coaling station from China
 during the recent controversy which led to Germany securing Kfaochau Bay as a coaling station, Russia se- curing Port Arthur and England se- curing Wei Hai Wei: There is good reason to- believe that the friendly spirit of China toward the United States would have made it possible for the United States to have secured the harbor of Mfrs Bay, or some other ad- -xa.ntageeus point on the Chinese coast. At tie present time, however, it is said this. China could not voluntarily grant without assuming a distinctly hostile attitude toward Spain. It is possible that China's=neutralit decree may be. issued any day, and yet the delay is in. no. way. exciting the authorities here, owing to the feeling that 1t leaves Chi mas ports open to Commodore Dewey's fleet.
 .taHnrR ANAIMCT