The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-30
DECREE OF NEUTRALITY
FINALLY GAZETTED BY PORTUGAL
SPANS WARMEST FRIEND.
Haiti Expected to Favor Neither Bel
ugerent-Britain,F France and Ger
many Opposing the Tonnage Tax.

WASHINGTON, April 90. - Viscount De
Santo Thirso, the Portuguese minister,
looked over the cable dispatches from Lisbon
giving the substance of the neutrality de-
cree gazetted there to-day, and said 1t was
evidently accurate and covered the entire
subject. He had not, however up to late
hour to-day, received official notification or
the neutrality decree. The viscount says
that Article 3, which permits belligerents to
make a short stop at Portuguese ports
probably will be better understood by say
ing that belligerents will 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 permitted
when war ships of both beligerent nations
were in the same port. In that case, if the
war ship of one power leaves port the war
ship of the other power cannot leave in
pursuit within twenty-four hours, that much
time being allowed the ship first departing
to go on her way without molestation. Por-
tugal has been very insistent on this par
ticular rule, and notable instance of it oc-
Cured when the famous Confederate priva-
teer Alabama was at Lisbon during the
civil war;
A United States ship entered Lisbon har-
Dor while the Alabama dwas there, and the
Alabama Immediately withdrew. The United
States ship apparently started in pursuit,
whereupon the Portuguese batteries fired
warning guns and were preparing to make
armed resistance to the departure of the
second war ship before the first one had
her full twenty-four hours start. 1t turned
out that the Northern ship had not intended
to f6o AloI I1,1fr
buoys, so that trouble was averted. This
same rule allowing twenty-four hours start
to the war ship of either country will be
again observed in the present conflict be-
tween the United States and Spain.
The British and F'rench ambassadors here
have received instructions relative to the
tonnage-tax provision in the war-tariff bill
which passed the House of Representatives
to-day. 1t is understood that the German
ambassador will also receive instructions
on the same subject. The nature of the in
structions is not disclosed, but they doubt
less relate to joint representations against
the severity OF the new tonnage tax. Lead
ing diplomats are hopeful that their repre-
sensations will lead to modification of the
clause before the new tariff bill becomes a
law, as otherwise they feel that the tom
mage dues 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 representations
of the foreign governments the shipping
interests of London, HaVre, Bremen and
other ports are experimenting the diplo-
matte negotiations with strong representa-
tons against the increased tonnage taxes
The Republic Of Hayti is expected to
maintain strict neutrality as between the
United States and Spain, and it is said that
reports OF exceptional privileges given to
the United States war ships in Haitian
waters are erroneous. The Haitian minister
Mr.. Legare, said to-day that he has received
no official instructions concerning neutraI-
ity but he had no doubt an attitude of i'm
partial neutrality will be maintained It is
recognized among officials here that all the
sympathies of Haiti are with the United
states, and yet any action by that country
inconsistent with strict neutrality WouId
place Haiti in the attitude of being an aIly
OF this country and an open enemy of Snair
Mr.. Legare had noticed the published quo
tatlons from the treaty between the United
States and Haiti, which, it was asserted
gave exceptional privileges to the United
states In that our war ships were given
the right to take coal and supplies in Hail
tian ports The minister made a careful
examination of his official text of the treaty.
ana was unable to locate any such excep-
tlonai privilege. The treaty was made dur
ing the civil war and contains many pro-
Visions relative to conditions of war But
close any provision which Is Inconsistent
with strict impartiality in neutral attitude
between Spain and the United states. Anv
privilege enjoyed by the SHIPS of one coun-
try will be equally open TO those of the
other country, he said.