The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-29

of MataHzas. He had visited that CITY fre-
quently, and was familiar with the Law of
the land and the defenses. He said the
batteries were antiquated, and were rot
likely 10 offer any formidable resistance.
Gen. Lee will call at the state department
tomorrow morning. Being still an cffi-
cial, he asked to be excused from discuss
ing the war situation, and was very reti-
cent concerning his prospective appoint
ment as major general
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 detailed copy will
be forwarded by mail. The cable notice is
brief, stating only that the decree follows
the treaty of Paris of 1856.
The state department has also been in
formed that the Argentine Republic, Ko-
rea and Belgium have proclaimed neutral
ity Korea's neutrality is considered i'm
portant, owing to her proximity to the
Philippines
The state department has heard nothing
from Germany, but this causes no appre-
hension, owing to the strong assurances
Germany has given that she win observe
strict neutrality between the two bellger
ents. Germany, Austria and Portugal are
the last of the important nations to declare
their attitude.
The apprehension as to Portugars course
was considerably removed to-day by the
call of Viscount de Santc-Thyrso, who
gave strong assurances to the state depart
ment that Portugal would remain strictly
neutral. The Portuguese minister expects
the official declaration almost hourly.
Although Portugal explains her delay on
the ground that the declaration of war was
11nt ma la he iDS
Britain declared neutrality with unusual
promptness. The effect of Great Britain's
speedy action was to force the United
States Geet to leave Hong Kong, while the
effect of PortugaFs delay has been to per-
init the Spanish fleet to remain at the
Cape Verde Islands. Thus speedy action
in the first was harmful TO American in
terests, while delayed action in the second
case was equally harmful to American in
terests.
Attention is now being centered on the
course of Austria. Her delay in declar-
ing neutrality causes no material incon-
venience, as Austria has no ports at
which Spanish ships can take refuge, but
it discloses that Austria's strong tenden-
cies are with Spain owing to the dynas-
tic relations between the thrones Of Aus
tria and Spain.
Foreign governments, through their re-
presen tatives in Washington, are begin
ming to show much concern over that
feature of the war tariff bill now before
Congress which increases the tonnage tax
on transatlantic shipping to e cents per
ton. 1t is said this increase is about 500
per cent, the present rate being about
three cents per ton, and that
nearly the entire burden of the
500 per cent. Increase falls on the trans
Atlantic shipping of Great Britain, Ger
many, France and one or two others com
.mercial nations. Thus far, however, no
official action has been taken on the sub
ject by foreign nations and it does not
seem likely that such official action is pos
sibie as the heavy tonnage tax is consid-
cred a war expedient, which foreign ship
ping must bear so long as they use Amer
ican ports There are intimations, how
ever that it may have the effect of di-
verting shipping away from American
ports to Halifax Montreal and other Ca
madam ports.