The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-18
MAY ASK AN EXPLANATION.
Augustus Arrival In Hong Kong on
the Kaiserin Augusta Not Understood

the haiscrin Augusta rot tnuefstoou'
The following IS from the Washington
correspondent or the New York sun:
WASHINGTON. AUG. l6.--rhe President
is profoundly interested IN tpe news that
came last night after midnight from Com
sui Widman 90 Hong Kong, thot Captain
General August. who arrived there on inc
Iaiserin Augusta had reporteu the DOM
bardmont and surrender Of Manila.
Although 10 is not admitted ohiciaily u
S. % fact that the administration officials
are concerned az the continued indications
Of Germ8nys desire 10 interfere ia mai
tcrs at Manila on the side OF spain
against the interests OF Che United states.
There is some reason 10 believe that tho
German warship went 90 Hong Kong for
the express purpose OF conveying the hea-
ing Spanish Captain General there with
his family. and there are many other rea-
sons for the unelsiness not 10 say onN-
ietv. OF the administration over Ger
monys attitude
The action OF the Captain Of The kais-
erin Augusta ip bringing August 20 Hong
Kong Will doubtless ho The subject or
some inquiry by this government
state Department officials say thai upon
the meagre statements contained in mo
press reports from Hong. long and ine
absence OF any details OF tho act N Com
sui Wildmans brief despatch they can
have nothing 90 say
Acting Secretary of State Moore had an
interview with President Mckinley mis-
morning. but &C. cannot be learned that
This formed o. subject of their conVor4A-
tion n a. pamphlet He'd in The library or
the Department Of State in March, 1874
John U1ssett 3io0rc professor of inter-
I H.. a. +. u .I
Assistant Secretary of state discus ed
enc length me right OK asylum BIO vessels
and LEGATIONS. Illustrating 30 with many
instances. from tho establishment OF the
cities 0f refuge for che children Of Israel
in the promised land to the incident
60 Valparaiso. Chill in l3L
"Tho granting Uf asylum says Mt
Moore "has nowhere received the sane
ton OF positive law" Tho statement that
lu certain countries it rs practically Zee
coeaized" is significant
H. means that the practice has existed,
not ass "a right derived from positive lazy
OF from custom. bat as "a privilege resting
on auQerauce. Professor Moore calls 1t-
touti0n 10 the interesting fact that tle
practice OF asylum mas been most extern
sive growing out OF the numerous ot~
tompts at revolution
no instance like the flight OF August
from Manila SO far as Che facts are
known. is given in Che book. Probably
tho nearest So the incident Boo the war boz
Paraguay I'm 1866. when United States
Minister WashbWn. ac Ascunc.on. aug-
gestcd 10 Commander Crosby OF the
man-of-war shamohn, that pence might
sooner take place Or a certain distin-
guishod person IA Paraguay" meaning
President Lopez. could find safe means
OF escape from the country on that Ves-
saL Crosby replied that ho could eXcr-
cise mO discretion in tho matter since
mo Admiral bad given him positive ore
ders not ID bring away Lopez or any
other Plrlsuayan.
Alr Wasnburn brought the case 90 tho
attention OF the govornment-in WASH
ingt0n with o. suggestion that DE De In
vested with discretion I'm tie case but
Secretary Seward replied that the Presi-
dent sanctioned the order given by Ad-
miral Gordon 10 Commander Crosby
ON the occasion OF the downfall OF Bali
maceda SD Chill. in ls3i United states
mau-of-war sailed with nineteen refu-
gees from VALPARAISO to Callao Peru.
and two others Were carried away ON
.- SAN Francisco ten days later. French
and English ships lu tas oay did not re-
colve any refugees and Professor Moore
says I'm a. foot note:
There does not seem 20 have been
any excuse for the reception OF these
refugees"
August does not appear, according 10
Consul Wudmans note, % have surren-
dered with Manila, and was not in that
sense "a refugee or o. prisoner escaping.
The German captain, IT. seems, was JUS
uaable In extending the hospitality %
the ship TO him. Just as ho would have
| boen 10 an American officer. The most
| that can DO made against the captain,
! facetiOusly suggested boy ono OF the
state Department officials. IS that in Au-
gusu he was carrying 'con,raDand OF
war;"