, 1899-11-16

ably could he delivered at n profit on
vessels at $3.50 Mexican per ton"
Rear Admiral Schlcy received orders
Thursday to raise his flag on the Chi
cage on the nth instant. BY this or
der Admiral Schley is formally placed
in command of the South Atlantic
station. Admiral Schley will proceed
to sea rs oon after the nth rs posi-
BILE. His squadron will consist of the
Chicago and the Montgomery, al
though there is official authority for
the statement that the squadron may
be increased about the tim that Adj
miral Schley starts on his cruise to
South African waters. No orders which
will be made public will be given to
Admiral Schley to proceed to any par
ticular part of his station, although
| 1t is known that he will cruise in South
African and East African waters. One
reason assigned for the fact that no
particular order will he given that the
admiral visit Delagoa bay or its vicini-
ty is that If the United States should
have n squadron there other nations
might eek TO have squadrOns there,
and it has already been intimated that
Great Britain has objected to anything
like n general demonstration in those
waters, which demonstration was sug-
gcsted some time ago by France. 1t
was stated to-day that Admiral Schley
will first sail for the South Atlantic,
where he will cruise ~leisurcly for
two weeks before starting for Cape
Town.
The State Department does not deny
that 1t is in correspondence with for
cign powers in regard to American
trade interests in China. The depart
ment has been devoting much atten-
ton to this subject ever since this adj
ministratiOn began. 1t has been the
policy of President Mckinley to pro-
tect in every way possible American in
terests in him without entering into
any alliances with any of the great
powers that are selling territory or eX-
erting influence to Sccure control of the
Chinese cOnst. | has been the policy of
the administration to protect our inter
cStS in q. lent W, thOut assisting Great
Britain to maintain the integrity of
China and without following the exam
pie of European nations in securing
spheres of influence. The United States
has treaties with China which guaran-
tee the protection of our interests
there. and it is the purpose of the adj
ministratiOn to insist that these
treaties shall be inviolate. The Presi-
@ does not admit that the spheres
of influence of other nations can shut
out the American trade from treaty
ports in China. He has insisted, and
will insist, that these treaty ports shall
remain open to American trade wheth-
er they shall be controlled by England,
Russia, Germany, France or Italy.
BY the arrangement recently made
between the governments of the United
States. Great Britain and Germany.
the United States becomes possessed
of all the islands Of the Samoan group
which lie east of the Hist meridian of
longitude. These islands comprise
Tutuila, where is situated the harbor
of pago-Tago. and further east, Manua,
OloOsinga. OfoO and Roso Islands. out
side of Tutuila in this group there is
no harbOr and but anchorage, sit
uated on the northwest side of Manua.
III Snvaii there is only one harbor for
ships. That of Mataatu. exposed at all
seasons; and moreover during the per-
iod from December to April. when the
north winds are prevalent, il is lam
gerous. In the island of UpOlu there is
no iirst-class harhor. Even that Of Sa-
luafata, mentioned above, would re-
quire very considerable expenditure
to make II of any use, while the made
quacy of Apia rs n harhOr was clearly
shown in the terribly destructive tenn
pest only n few years aGo. But in the
island of Tutuiln besides five rec har-
bors similar to those in Upolu. there is
the harbOr of PagO-Pago, which is Il
deep and land-lockad basin whose easy
approach and perfect security for YES
sells causes 1t To outweigh in value all
the other islands of the group. 1t is
generally considered by naval experts
the finest harbor in the Pacific ocean.
The a~lacrity with which the samoan
question was settled and the slight re
sistancc shown by the European pow
erS to the efforts of the United States
to protect commercial interests in Chi
ma is regarded by the State Depart
ment officials as marking II new era in
the effectiveness of diplomatic repre-
sentatiun cmanaring from Washington
due to the worldwide recognition that
this nation has advanced to first rank
among the great powers. This trans
formation dates practically from the
carly part of the present year. Prior
TO that time. it is pointed out, the
European concert was disposed to set
tie Asintic affairs ns well ms those of
the greater part Of the earth. with ut
ter disregard of any other interests
than their own n notable instance
was tnat of ~dcspuiling Japan of the
just fruits of her victory over China,
and tGc division of tile profits between
Germany and Russia. Ii Is the pro-
found conviction in the State Depart
ment that no such "high-hnnded pro-
ccedings win be subsequently attempt
ed, either in Asia or in tile Pacific.
while Interference in South or Central
American mHttors. which has been of
frequent suggestion for many years,
nccessitnting constant exhibition by
this country of the Monroe doctrine
and annoying minor controversies. has
been entirely placed beyond the posi-
bilities.
During Saturdays session Of the In.
dustrial Commission, replying to the
statement of John ID. Archibald of the
Standard Oil Company. that his com
pany had received no discriminatory
freight rates since the Interstate com
mercc law went Into effect. Mr.. Rice
gave numerous Instances Of what he
characterized as determinations made
In the Interest of the Standard Com
pany since that date. He made charges
of such favoritism against the South
ern Pacific, the Union Pacific. the Mis-
-a=-H rs