The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-29

the decree f0&low1 the fresty - rssD q
10.
Ths state department has also been IN
formed shas Mexico, tho Asgsn<ins Rspub-
Ne. Korea ard sDeagfs@ h.vs peeetn1ne1
neutrality. Kora's neutrality 80 conssi-
erred important. ovisx to her proximity 20
the Philippines
The state deparsmen. has heard moth
lag from Germany. bss this caused no z2-
prchensson. owing 10 tie strong assar-
aaces Germany has given that ssss viii CD
serve strict neutrality between the txo
sseslsgerenss. This ASSURANCES Was con-
veysd to Ambassaeee White and ia locked
upon - practically equivalent TO a formal
declaration Of neutrality. Germany. Ans
ira and Portugal are The last OF the I'm
porfant European nations 20 declare their
attitude.
The apprehension a. to Portmgs.'s course
was considerably removed today by the
call Of yiscours de sAnto-Thyrso. who
gave streng assurances 10 the state de-
pAssmsHs that Portugal weuld remain
strictly nsu:rai Tie Portuguese minister
expects the Official declaration almost
hourly Although Portugal explains her
Delay on the ground that the declaration
wAs rot made unit the zsta inst. yet
Great Britain declared nsasralisy with
great prompfncn. The effects OF this
speedy action was 10 force the United
States fsecs 10 leave Honskons. while the
effect Of portuxsrs delay has been TO per-
NIT tho Spanish feet TO remain 1t the
Cape Verde islands This speedy action IA
fbs ars, case was harmful TO Anserfcsa
interests. while delayed action In the Sac
ossd case was equally hsrnfui for Amer,-
can interests
Attention il now being rentered on thu
court Of Austria Her delay IN dec.srsnS
hsatSAiify causes no material fnconver-
ience. ~ Austria has no ports at which,
spanssh ships car take refuge. bu, 1t dis
closes tina, AlstriA's strong sympa .hies are
With Spain. owing to the dynassic relations
between ths thrones Of Austria and spain.
Foreis. governments. through their rep
rsseatatises In Washington. are beginning
to show much concern ever that feature
OF tbs war tariff bill before congress which
increases the tonnage tar on Transatlantic
Vessels to 80 cents a ton 1, Ia said that
neAriy the entire burden falls upon the
transatlantic rhinplng Of Great Britain.
Germany. France and one or two other
coasusrciai nations
leading diplomatic official stated today
tsat roughly speaking the Atlantic trade
was carried b. only about loo American
steatasiiltM ami about 100 British. French.
that the tax would he practically insignifi-
cant IN against American steamships. while
II would be very enormous a9Ainst foreign
shipp4ng. A transatlantic liner OF 1890
tonA he said. would pay % cents per ton.
or te.0o every time It entered an Ameri-
action has bssn taken on the subject BY
foreign nations. and IT does not seem likely
that such officia! action h possible. a. the
heavy tonnage tar Is caused by war ex-
pedient which foreign shipping must bear
% long ~ they use American ports.
There ara intimatiops. however, this; II
may have the effect OF dlverting shipping
away from the American ports TO Halifax.
Montreal and other Canadian ports
In other respects the war tariff bin at
tracts little attention In foreign quarters.
"a the main increase Of taxation is on ar
siniss of domestic consumption. while dsi-
ties ON foreign imports remain practically
unchanged.
Tho navy department has completely
ceased Its purchase of xhins for conversion
Into war vessels owing 10 the exhaustion
Of the ss0ao.oee war fund. II Is confident
w expected ;hat congress will come to hts
relief. az the department is sim In need OF
auxiliary vessels
The news of the safe arrival of the big
American sailing ship Shenandoah was
gladly received st the department. Consul
Boyle. AT Liverpool. forwarded the In
formation
the Port Royal drydock. according 70
etYiciai information. viii be accessible 10
our warships, even the biggest in the feet.
should they meet with accident during the
campaign.
The report from the constructor in
charge shows that the entrance TO the
dock il now dredgei and clear. The work
of dredging the basin IL s;in in progress,
and while this is not absolutely necessary,
IL Is extremely desirable. ia order 10 in-
sure the safety Of :he ships in docking.
aud The department is endeavcrtng se
hasten the contractors in their werk. They
estimate that aeoa, fifteen days more viii
suffice TO compete II.
The board OF bureau chiefs met today.
to begin the consideration OF the pans for
the three new hatilesnIps authorized by
ihe naval appropriation hill. and pro
grpsxes; 80 Gar tAst circulars will be sent
oas Inviting bids from the shlp builders,
The vessels viii he 10 the main very sim
slsr TO the battlesalp Illinois. now build
ing at Newport News. They VII be shou,
,s.saa tons displacement. . feei ecaa,, ct.
feet depth, sixteen Knots speed. vii! he
covered by heavy srnfoT ana armed wI'h
thirteen and Six-inch guns. In addition "a
.stuofFasss secondary batteries