Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-29
WATCH DEWEY.
Continued from page ~

general Gen. Lee said that he had not
sent by Lieut.. De Carranza, late naval
attache at Washington 1t is under
stood that three or four people have Of
fered to accommodate Lieutenant de
Carranza if he desires a meeting.
The French embassy has received a
cable dispatch from the foreign Office
at Paris announcing that a decree of
neutrality between the United States
and Spain has been issued and that a
detailed copy will be forwarded by
mail. On the receipt of the dispatch
the French ambassador. NJ. Canbon,
wrote to the state department inform
ing it of Frances neutrality. The ca
BILE notice is brief. stating only that the
decree follows the treaty of Paris Of
1856. The state department has also
been informed that Mexico. Argentinc
Republic, Korea and Belgium have pro-
claimed neutrality. Korca's neutrality
is considered important, owing to her
proximity to the Philippines.
The state department has heard
no apprehension, owing to the strong
assurance Germany has given that she
will observe strict neutrality between
the two bclligerents. This assurance
was conveyed to Ambassador Whit.
and is looked upon as practically equiv
aent TO Il formal declaration of neu-
trality.
The apprehension as to Portugara
course was considerably removed, to-
Thyrso, who gave strong assurance to
the state department that Portugal
would remain strictly neutral.
Attention is now being centered IN
the course of Austria. Her delay in
declaring neutrality causes no material
Inconvenience as Austria has no ports
at which Spanish ships can take re-
fuge, but it discloscs that Austria 5
strong tendencies are with Spain.
Foreign governments, through their
representatives in Washington, are be-
ginning to show much concern over
that feature of the war tariff bill, now
before Congress. which increases the
tonnage tax on transatlantic shipping
to 90 cents per ton. 1t is said this in
crease is about 300 per cent, the pres
ent rate being about > cents per ton.
and that nearly the entire burden Of
the 300 per cent. increase falls on trans
Atlantic shipping of Great Britain, Ger
many. France and one or two other
commercial nations.
A leading diplomatic official stated.
today, that roughly speaking, the At
lantic trade was carried on by about 1c4
American steamships and about 1909
British, French, German and other for
eign steamships. so that the heavy tor.-
mage tax would be practically insisnifi
cant as against American steamships.
foreign shipping. y transatlantic
liner OF 10000 tons, he said would pay
at 20 cents per ton. $4,000. every time she
entered an American port.
Thus far, however no al action
has ben taken on the subject ny foreign
nations and il does not seem likely that
such official action is possible, as the
heavy tonnage tax is considered Il W3.f
eXpcdiont which foreign shipping must
bear SO long as they use American
ports. There are limitations, however
that it may have the effect of diVcrtn-
shipping away from American ports 81
Halifax, Montreal and other Canadian
ports.
In other respects the war tariff bill
attracts littic attention in foreign quar-
tcrS. as the main increase of taNatior
is on articles of domestic consumption
while duties on foreign imports lcmaii
practically unchanged.
No information of he grounding O.