New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-01
CHINA'S PORTS STILL OPEN.
NO PROCLAMATION OF NEUTRALITY is
SUED YET.
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS WILL NOT BE DIS
PLEASED II TIE DECREE is WITHHELD
ENTIRELY. AS iIAKeoR FON oO"
:. MoDoRE pEwEvs FLEET MIGHT
Re AvA:,.Ep OF IN CASE
OF NEED.

OF NEED
WASHINGTON. April S0.-The Chinese Minister
Mr.. WI Ting Fang. called at the state De-
n,r,rnept today and had 4 talk with officials
concerning the war situation. He did not prins
q notice Of neutrality and he has received no
word thus far from his Government that |h'ia
will declare her neutrality. The authoFl'ies mere
would not be dsrleased II China wlthhelo 'he
decree altogether. as such a course might nc "a
distinct advantage TO the United States III case
Commodore Dewey's fleet fails to erect iahu
ing on the Philippines and is opiseh TO seen
some open port With an American meet III
Asatic waters. the situation becomes hazardous
unless a belligercnt port is captured or neutrai
port remains open.
Tn 70 today all countries occupying west
.,n As,atic territory except China hac declared
ncutrality The notice Of Corea was given Two
DAYS ago thds closing the port or Chemuipo.
Japan gave notice to-day. thus closing al
Japan's ports. including Yokohama "hich ~
the most advantageous harbor IN Asiat'c
waters. and nearer the Philippines tnan any
other port The British and French DEGREES
closed Hong Kong and ports OF BRUSH l"u'"
and French TonQuin.
rur CHINESE MINISTER'S STATEMENT
When Mr.. WI Ting Fang was seen at the
Chinese Legation tonight he said tha'' having
received notice OF OnllldS HcuNi"'-'' So
.umcd none had been issued by the Imperial
Government At the same time he had no'iceu
nress DISPATCHES that the American Meet leit
Mrs Raw. which Is a Chinese possession, owing
Or @ dec,aration Of neutrality. The Minister be-
ueyes this declaration. il made. was given ny
the local Vice~oy and applies only TO the froN
ince OF Canton.
As "a whether the Emperor will decree neu-
+rality Mr. WI is not able 10 cay. III Is re-
called, however, that no decree or neu'ra''
uas ,ssued during the Franco-Prussian war
and that China has not been in inc h"o'' ~
issuing neutrality DEGREES in outbreaks IN 'ne
o.,.r nar,s q, the world. Now however, that
.ha &c keeninC in touch with the methods o.
International procedure. this former inacu"n
NAV give way to the adoption or an a't'uue
n, neutrality This would have p-en done durins
the Franco Prussan war had not fres'ueH'
Grant used his good Offices TO BRING ABOUT an
ARRANGEMENT by which french ana "eiin""
Sims at Asiatic ports RETAINED from hos'll''es
while there While China entertains the most
friendly feeling toward the United states. MI
WI feels that this would not justify the VIII
holding Of neutrality If il in any way operated
>o the advantage of the United states as against
snain as that would array Spain against China
China has a large number OF treaty ports
with fine harSors scattered along her coast
These are we'll provided with coal ana o'he'
.unnlies. and sny one Of them WOULD be most
advantageo,is as a harbor for the American meet
IN case one was required in the Far East II IS
said however that even without neutraHty
decree by China these harbors could not De
need as a naval base Of operations Az most
they could be used only for temporary refuge
and for such coal and supplies as wouio take
the American fleet TO the next port
NEED OF A COALING STATION.
The authorities here feel that tie Onlteo
States would have profted much by securing
coa,,np station from China during the recent
controversies which led to Germany's securing
Kiao- Chau Bay a coaling station RUSSIA
occurring Port Arthur and England Wei-Hal-
Wei There is good reason TO believe 'ha' 'he
friendly spirit Of China toward the Chi'eo
States would have made IT possible for 'he
United States TO have secured the haroor OF
Mrs Raw or some other advantageous point on
tho Chinese coast. At the present time, now
ever II is said that China could not voluntarily
grant such a coaling station without assuming
distinctly hostile attitude toward spain. III
Is POSSIBLE that China's neutrality decree may
be issued any day, and yet the delay is IN no
way troubling the authorities here owing 10
the feeling that it leaves China's ports open 70
Commodore Deweys fleet.