New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-07
WILL OBSERVE NEUTRALITY.
NO FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
VIEWS OF DIPLOMATS AT WASHINGTON
GERMAN OFFICIALS ANNOYED BY

Washington. Feb. Elm diplomatic quarters
the view prevails that al foreign governments
will maintain strict neutrality in case Of an in
surrection in the Philippines, hut that no formal
p-oclamations Of neutrality will be issued, as
these would be an indirect recognition Of the
Filipinos belligerents
The Foreign Offices had not up 10 noon to-
day communicated with their representatives in
Washington. and il is hardly expected that there
will be need for action through these officials
unless the foreign colonies at Manila in
danger. The position OF the foreign Powers is
looked upon as analogous TO that OF the United
States during SPANS trouble with the Cuban
insurgents. At that time the United States pre-
served neutrality without formal law recog-
nzing the two contestants as bellieerents ana
at the same time all the resources Of the Govern
ment were used to prevent the fitting out OF NIL
clustering expeditions and the shipping OF arms
to the insurgents. This Is looked upon IN diplo-
matte quarters as the correct procedure ana the
opinion is general that 1t will be the line OF
action OF foreign governments toward the up
rising in the Philippines The proximity OF the
archipelago to various large shipping ports Will
require cargoes to be closely scrutinzed
A diplomatic official stated to-day that the
Varships OF Great Britain. Germany and France
now in Asiatic waters as well as the Consuls OF
these countries. would undoubtedly be charged
with the duty OF seeing that flibustering cargoes
and expeditions were not fitted out at the nearby
ports
The status Of the uprising is looked upon
as anomalous and almost without a parallel
owing to the doubt as 10 who exercises soVer-
eighty. one well-known diplomat stated that
the United States had de facto police authority
over Manila but the de jure authority was IN
complete before the Peace Treaty was ratihed'
This he said raised the question whether or not
the uprising was in the nature OF an insurrectloh
against the sovereign authority. This view Is
the one accepted 10y the British. German and
French diplomatic officials
In another diplomatic quarter the point was
made that skirmish. even with the killing OF
a man, did not constitute an Instruction Inc
latter. It is said. involves the elements OF pre-
nedjtated resistance to the constituted authori-
ties. while the reports Of the Manila outbreak
are taken 10 Indicate that this was a clash be-
tween the advance lines Of our forces and the
Insurgents. rather than the formal determna-
ton OF Agulnaldo and his followers 70 begin a.
forclble resistance
The reports that the insurgents had secured
arms from German firms with the cognizance OF
German officials is emphaticaly repudiated py
those conversant with the matter. II is said
that II any such information was held by this
Government 1t would doubtless be the basis Tor
2 protest to Germany. and a request for an eX-
nlanation. But no such protest has been made,
and the reports cause much annoyance 10 those
who maintain that Germany has scrupuously
maintained her good faith to the United States,
and will continue 10 do so.