New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20
BRAZIL. WOULD BE NEUTRAL
~, coNc1,p n1sc1,ssFs THE ATTITUDE OF THAT
COUNTRY IN CASE OF WAR BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES AND SPAIN.

UNITED STATES AND SPAIN
c.,.ono March Io-.In the event OF war between
.,I-ntod States and Spain, the attitude OF Brazil
Will be one Of hands Of The Republic OF brazil
IS more friendly TO than she Is TO SPAIN pu' 'e
people are too clever not 20 know that bfa%' cou'
not gain ANYTHING by taking sides In such cohes'.
This &c the opinion Of Major T. Fl. Conger formerly
United States Minister 10 Brazil. VINO Is 10" Hi'N
ing his way Icisureiy 10 the western coas. "hehc'
no will set sail for his new post IN China within
few weeks Major Conger IS Us familiar us any
man can be with the situation In Brazil ana as
diplomat has had abundant opportunity 10 stuuy
the peCpo and the Government OF the ne" repuohc
He admits that his opinion concerning the prooaoe
attitude Of Brazil in tho event Of hosiii'es between
the United States and Spain Is at best guess. buy
snys It is guess founded upon what knowledge
he has of Brazil as n republic.
Brazil, he says. does not know apsou'eiy what
position she would take The President has not
figured II. the people have not though' apou' IT,
Major Congcr reasons thus
Brazil could not afford 70 lend either moral or
material support 10 Spain, because her extensive
trade with the United States would thereby be al
fected She would gain nothing by Joining hands
with this country IN rendering her sympathy.
She is not interested IN Cuba from commercial
point OF VIEW and cannot afford 10 he Interested
from any other because OF the condition OF her
finances Her President and statesmen are too wise
and too clever to assume any attitude that would
react upon the Republic itself and In consequence
her position must be one OF neutrality
The sale Of the warships TO the United states
Major Conger considers purely a commercial trans
action. Brazil needed the money" he says. more
than she did the vessels She found purchaser
10 warran, the Conclusion that Brazil would assist
the United States III war win spain. Inc ships
It was expected there would be need for them in the
future bu: hat need has not come and is not now
could be spared. and the United States got them:
Speaking of the fsh;ing strength OF me republic
out OF proportion, Brazil ms nearly as many men
enrolled in her army rs has the United States; The
Gi Tlr and in each Sae the National Guard is
far better organized than here She has four good
fashioned ships. These forces are maintained as
4S 10 the o PSi fans hc has
not disappeared entirely There are men who were
stiii Major Conger declares that Brazil POLITICAL
% @ fTs epuSca1 form Of rom the
United states, and also her constitution and system
s,s. % !, sRasss I e.
and imports OF the two republics he considers as
Wss ,bs nq nsS sass Ss to hs limited t. e,
10000 worth of goods In Brazil and admits them
o ,Se free Of so duty y her, rs SsaT se
opinion, another recprocity treaty will come In
% 10 s Of If s sny oBer % have se
need Of revenue Will not be so great as il Is now
and she afford 10 deal with the United States
reciprocally In experimenting with a republican
form OF government. she has been most fortunate
In selecting courageous, conscientious, able man
as President and In naming man as HIS successor
who combines the same clements
Minister Conger expects to reach his post IN
China early in 'une. He is guarded in his state
mens concerning the Eastern situation But he /.
not blind TO the fact that the situation In the East
has not ceased TO be complicated and that. II any.
thing, II is becoming even So What the
United States wants is open ports he declares
China is Just beginning to develops she is build
ing railroads into the interior. her trade relations
with the outside world will be extended and this
country insists upon getting her share That is our
policy. What the attitude of this Nation viii be In
the future mus be determined upon the steps taken
by the foreign Powers. / do not believe however
that there is going TO be thanksgiving carving OF
the Chinese Empire" "e u
Mr. Conger has only words Of praise for Minister
DENLY. whom he succeeds He calls him a strong
man. OF Wide experience and Of unusual attain.
ments as lawyer, a statesman and a diplomat. and
man who stands high with the Chinese Govern
ment