The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-30

! disregard bcrkades enforced by the North
and threats of interference, all OF which
i'canie 10 naught. from The ilIin attitude as
sumed by the secretary OF state.
In most places the conditions of the Gu
ban blockade are much more liberal to-
wards the powers than ever imposed be-.
lfore.
man commercial interests in combining to
secure exemption from search for their
mall steamers. 1t is pointed cut that the
president, IN his proclamation declaring
war, explicitly announced that the voy-
ages OF mail steamers are no. 10 be Inter
fered with except on the clearest grounds
of suspicion OF violation Of law In re-
sptct to contraband or blockade.
Nistount De santo- Thyrso, the Portu-
gucse minister. looked over the Associated
Press cable dispatch, from London giving
the substance OF the neutrality decrca ga
lcttcd there today and said II was evil
IDENTIFY accurate and covered the entire
subject. He had not, however. UP to a
late hour today. received an official noti-
fication of the neutrality decree The Wis
count says that article Q. which permits
belligerents to make a short stop at Por-
tuguesc ports. probably will be better UNI
dcrstood by saying that the belligerents
VIII not be permitted TO make long stays
ut Portuguese ports Under the usual rules
OF international law the stay is likely to
bc confined 10 q day or two. In this con-
nection the minister drew attention to tho
privileges permitted, when warshipa OF both
belligerent nations were In the same port.
In that case, II the warshlp OF one power
poave~ port. the wnrship OF the other power
can not leave In pursuit within twenty
four hours that much time being allowed
the ship frat departing TO 10 on her way
without molestntion,
| The British and French ambassadors
| here have received Instructions relative
to the tonnage in thr war tariff bill which
| passed the house today. The nature OF
| the Instructions Is not disclosed. but they
| doubtless relate to the Joint representa-
| lions against the severity of the new tom
| mage tax. Leading diplomats are hopeful
| that their representations will lead to a
! modification OF tho clause before tho now
! tariff bill becomes lawful, otherwise they
| feel that the tonnage duties win b. so
burdensome ON British French and German
| shipping as to cause 1t TO seek Canadian
4 and Mexican ports, Aside from the cx-
| prctca official representations OF the for.
cign governments tho shipping interests
| of London, Havre and Bremen and other
| ports arc experimenting the diplomatic
| negotiations with strong Representations
agninst tbs Increased tonnage taxes
Tho republic of Hayti Is expected TO
| maintain strict neutrality as between the
| United States and Spain end II Is said
that the reports OF exceptional privileges
given TO tho United States warshils In
| llaytlnn waters are erroneous, The Hay
tian minister. Mr.. Legare said today TINT
| re had received no official instructtons
| concerning neutrality, but he had no doubt
an attitude OF impartial neutrality would
| he maintained. II y recognized ANON,
| cfiir ,ls here that all tho sympsthiss az
| llayti are with the United States and vol
action ny the country otherwise than peu.
tai would plaae her In bah liaht with
other powers sna Spain. Mr.. Iegarc had
| noticed the mtAlished a,s,ta,lons from
! The treaty between thc United States aud
| HaSl which Il was said Rave exceptional
our warshins were given tho right 10 tnko
coal and supplies In Haytl The minister
made careful examination OF his o.