The record-union., 1898-06-25
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
Germany Has No Intention Of In
terferiug.

WASHINGTON, June 24.--The only
important development at to-day S
Cabinet meeting was the positive set
tlement of the question of the attitude
Of Germany with respect to the Philip
pines. The Secretary of State has re-
ceived assurances which settles beyond
question all doubts on this point. Ger
many has no intention, present or pros
pective, of interfering in any way with
the policy or plans of the United States
in regard to the occupation OF the ISL
ands It's attitude has been and Will
continue to be one of strict neutrality.
This statement, coming from high
officia! sources, is accepted by this Gov
ernment in perfect good faith and IS
regarded as final and conclusive. No
attention will be paid by this Govern
ment to any reports to the contrary
which are constantly being sent out, it
is believed, in the interest of Spain.
Official reports received from Admiral
Dewey at Manila state that there has
not been an intimation that Germany
or any other nation by its naval rep
resentative had ever shown the least
disposition 10 overstep the line of strict
neutrality, nor has there been any rea-
were strongly with the Spanish in the
present struggle.
The situation of the forces at Santi-
ago and Baiquiri was discussed at some
length by the Cabinet Nothing of u
disquieting nature has been received,
and it is expected when the troops have
all been landed and the heavy siege
guns and equipment are ready for a
forward movement the fall of Santiago
will be question of only a short time.
The reports of the movements of .he
Cadiz fleet were also discussed, but no
apprehension is felt in regard to it.
The Associated Press is able to state
on authority that permission to land
marines or troops at Manila has not
been sought by the German EmbasSa-
dor here of the State Department, nor
has any such permission been granted.
In fact, there have been no OvertureS
exchanged on the subject. It can be
stated positively that since the arrival
of Admiral Diederich with German
ships at Manila, no instructions what
ever relating to the Manila situation
have been sent from the German For
eign Office to the German ambassador
ait Washington, nor has the subject as
sumed a phase where instructions Of
any kind have passed during the last
three weeks. This disposes of various
reports based on the fact that DR.. Won
Holleben the German Embassador,
called on the Secretary of State on the
regular diplomatic day.
1t is said at the Navy Department
that Admiral Dewey is the supreme au-
thority at Manila. If troops, marines
or sailors are landed at that place from
any neutral men-of-war, it Will be with
his permission. 1t is not questioned
here that a nation may properly seek
such permission when it is deemed eS-
sential to protect its citizens, it's Con-
sulate and it's interests, but it is usual
in such cases for the neutral command
er to seek the permission of the invest
ing Admiral, if it is possible to prefer
the request. No such landing by any
possibility could be properly construed
in the requirement of right to remain
in possession of any territory in the
Philippines. and our Government does
not for a moment contemplate that any
of the European Powers would attempt
to set up any such claim, which would
be resisted to the full extent of our
military and naval power.