Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1938. BRITAIN AND PORTUGAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 43, 30 November 1938, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1938. BRITAIN AND PORTUGAL.

The statement by the President of Portugal that there is no movement toward the diminution of the sovereignty of Portuguese over territories held by her in Africa has an important bearing on British policy in regard to that Continent. A few weeks ago there were in circulation reports to the effect that Germany’s demands for the return of her former colonies involved infringement of Portugal’s rights. Had that been so a most delicate problem would have presented further difficulties for Britain, because her commitments in Africa are not confined to the territories under the Union Jack. They include a most important undertaking with Portugal, under the terms of the treaty formally promising her assistance in maintaining her national integrity against any threat of invasion. The importance of this alliance was recently emphasised by Dr. A. P. Newton, Rhodes Professor of Imperial History in the University of London. “Any Power that threatens the integrity of Portugal threatens Great Britain —-with all the consequences,” he said. “And only a few months ago it was explicitly stated by the British Government in the House of Commons that that guarantee of help in case of need extends not only to the integrity of Portugal herself in Europe, but also to the Portuguese col- ( iiics upon which some land hung»y Powers have turned longing eyes.” To British realms the colonial renaissance oi Portugal is of prime interest. The island groups of Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands are essential strategic points t ;nd ports of call for British ships on the route to the Cape of Good Hope, while the Azores are a vital intermediate stage in the development of the new air route across the Atlantic to and from America. The frontier of the great land colony of Angola on the west coast marches with Rhpdesia and the Union of South Africa, and hand in hand Portuguese and British engineers have made vast strides in developing the railways as a means of communication with British territories in Central Africa. On the 6ther side of the continent lies Portuguese East Africa, the great Province of Mozambique, There is situated the Portuguese port of Lourenco Marques on Delagoa Bay. which is one of the principal ports of entry to the Transvaal. There again South Africans and Portuguese are associated for their common benefit. Thus, as Dr. Newton says, the AngloPortuguese alliance constitutes a vital factor in Imperial policy in Africa.