The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-30
PARIS ARRIVES SAFELY At NEW YORK.
SIMPSONS Report of the Firing Matanzas
It Was Only a Reconnaissance Dewey
His Way to the Philippine Islands.

pointed out that the president i'm his
proclamation declaring the existence
of war, explicitly announced that the
voyages of mail steamers are not to be
interefered with except on the clear
est grounds of suspicion of a violation
or law In respect to contraband goods.
Viscount de Santo Thryso, the Por-
tuguese minister. looked over the asso-
ciated press cable dispatch from Lis
bon giving the substance of the neu-
trality decree gaZetted there to-day,
and said IL was evident il was accu-
rate and covered the entire subject.
He had not. however. up to a late
hour to-day received an official notifi-
cation of the neutrality decree. He
says that article 3, which permits bel
ligerents to make a short stop at Por-
tuguese ports, probably will be better
understood by saying that beligerents
VIII not be permitted to make long
stays at Portuguese ports. Under the
usual rules of international law, the
stay is likely to be confined to a day
or two. In this connection the minister
drew attention to the privileges per-
mitted when both belligerent nations
were at the same port. In that case
If warship of one power leave port
the warship of the other power cam
not leave in pursuit within "A hours,
that much time being allowed the ship
first departing to go on her way with
out molestation. Portugal has been
very insistent upon this particular
rule, and notable instances of 1t oc-
Cured when the famous confederate
privateer Alabama was at Lisbon dur
ing the civil war. A United States
ship entered Lisbon harbor while the
Alabama was there and the Alabama
Immediately withdrew. The United
states ship apparently started in pur-
suit, whereuDon the Portuguese bat
teries fired warning guns and were
prepared to make armed resistance to
the departure of the second warship
before the first one had her full "A
hours start. 1t turned out that the
northern ship had not intended to
chase the Alabama but was moving
her buoys, so that trouble was avert
ed The same rule, allowing "a
hours start to the warship of either
country, will again be observed in the
present conflict
The British and French ambassadors
here have received instructions rela-
i've TO the tonnage tax provision in the
war tariff bill passed by the house of
representatives to-day. 1t is under
stood that the German ambassador
VIII also receive instructions on the
same subject. The nature of the in
structions Is not disclosed, but il
doubtless relates to joint representa-
tions against the severity of the new
tonnage tax.
Leading diplomats are hopeful that
their representations will lead to a
modification OF the clause, otherwise
they feel that the tonnage duties will
be so burdensome on British, French
and German shipping as to cause it to
seek Canadian and Mexican ports
Aside from the expected official repre-
a nf h.
the shipping interests of London
Havre and Bremen and other ports are
supplementing the diplomatic negotia-
tions with strong representations
against the increased tonnage tax The
republic of Hayti is expected to main
tain strict neutrality as between the
United States and Spain, and it is un-
derstood that reports of exceptional
privileges given to the United States
warships i'm Haytien waters are erro-
neous. The Haytien minister, Mr.. Le-
gare, said to-day that he had received
no official instructions concerning neu-
trality, but he had no doubt an atti-
tude of impartial neutrality will be
maintained. 1t Is recognized among
officials here that all the sympa thies of
Hayti are with the United States, and
yet any action by that country incon-
sistent with strict neutrality would
place Hayti in the attitude of being
an ally of the United States and an
open enemy of Spain. Mr.. Legare had
noticed the published quotations from
the treaty between the United States
and Hayti which, il was asserted, gave
exceptional privileges to the United
States, in that our warships were given
the right to take coal and supplies in
Haytien ports. The minister made a
careful examination of his official text
of the treaty and was unable to locate
any such exceptional privilege. The
treaty was made during the civil war
and contains many provisions relative
to ships of war. but Mr.. Legare's read
ing of them does not disclose any pro-
vision which is inconsistent with i'm
partiality in a neutral attitude between
nj h.. Tnft