Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-28

neutral attitude, sooner or later.
GERMANY's HESITATION.
The delay Of Germany is felt to be due
solely to Germany's consulting her own
commercial interests before shaping the
exact terms Of her neutrality proclama
ton. From the first Germany and Great
Britain have opposed the right of search.
as detrimental to British and German
commerce. Thus far. Spain has an
hounced much more radical doctrine
than the United States i'm this matter.
The Spanish order. published in the
oihcial Gazette last Monday announced
the purpose OF exercising the right Of
search of all merchant ships on the high
seas The Presidents proclamation of
yesterday qualified the right Of search by
saying that it "is to be exercised with
strict regard 20 the rights OF neutrals
and the voyages OF mail steamers are not
10 be interfered with. except on the
clcarest grounds Of suspicion" etc.
1t is understood that this matter OF
right of search is causing the hesitatiop
on the part Of Germany. and that II it
is satisfactorily established that German
merchant ships shall not be subject to
haIassment Germany will adopt the
same course as other nations.
The action already taken by four Of the.
six great Powers shows that there will be-
no concert Of interference by the great
Powers or by the three Powers consti-
tuting the Dreibund.
ATTITUDE OF PORTUGAL.
The attitude Of Portugal Is felt 10 be
more important just at present than that
of any Of the other Powers. owing TO the
presence of the Spanish fleet at the Cape
de Verde Islands. bel'nging to Portugal.
Neither the State Department nor the
Portuguese Minister at Washington, Vis-
count De Santo Thyrsc. had received
word mp 10 tonight to the purpose of
Portugal on the question of neutrality
This caused considerable apprehension IN
official circles here. as it was felt that
Portugals vicinage TO Spain might in
cline her TO withhold neutrality for "a
time She owns the Cape dc Verde group.
the Azores. and the Madeiras. which
would give the Spanish fleet three very
important bases of operation Late in the
day the press dispatch from Lisbon say
ing that the Cabinet council would de-
clare neutrality tomorrow. relieved this
apprehension considerably. The effect OF
the decree will be to compel the Spanish
fleet at Cape dc Verde to leave imme-
diatcly.
II is felt. however, that Portugal has
done her neighbor a good turn in defer
ring the proclamation until tomorrow
as the Spanish fleet has been laying in
stores and coal for several days past
and doubtless will be fully equipped and
ready TO sail before the ifeutrality pro-
clamation forces them out of Portuguese
waters.
Colombia is the only South or Central
American country which has deferred Il
reason to doubt that all of them will
take a neutral position.
40 EUROPEAN INTERVENTION.
Members Of the diplomatic corps dts
miss the report coming from Europe that
another move toward European interven- |
tion will be made as soon as Spain suf- |
fers a decisive reverse. This is said TO
be purely coniectural ana no such move |
has taken form thus far by the eX-
change of notes. 1t is accepted as set |
ted that 40 more ships intended Tor the |
American navy can leave the ports Of |
those countries which have declared their |
neutrality. This result is most serious in |
the case of the cruiser Albany now at !
the Armstrong yards. Elswich, England. |