A BRITISH ALLY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 49, 26 August 1939, Page 7

A BRITISH ALLY

PACT WITH PORTUGAL

NOW FIVE CENTURIES OLD

RENEWAL SHORTLY?

In one of the busiest public rooms of a Lisbon hotel is displayed a board recording the great dates of Portuguese history, writes K. S. Robson in the "Daily Telegraph." There, above the catalogue of the vast discoveries of Albuquerque, Magellan, Vasco da Gama, Men dcs Pinto, and contemporaneous adventurers, runs the golden-letter inscription:

1386 Perpetual Treaty of Alliance Signed with England. "Perpetual" is an ambitious claim. But after more than 500 years of European war and peace the Anglo-Portu-guese alliance still holds good. Britain has lately remanifested her wish to I maintain it, and any doubt as to Portu- ! guese reciprocity was finally dispelled la few weeks ago by the Dictatorj Premier himself. "We believe in adhering to* the constant tenets of our policy," Dr. Olijveira Salazar told the National 'Assembly, "ensuring, by fidelity to the ! Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, the defence jof our common interests, and upholdjing, where the treaty obligations are jnot binding, the right to act freely j and to maintain many other friend- ! ships. . . - I "For my part—and I know I speak Jin the name of my country—l hold it as important to keep the obligations of the Alliance faithfully as to prevent it, for the honour and interest of both parties, from ever being corrupted or i debased." The conflicting trend of European ! policies has now brought England and ! Portugal closer together than they have - been for many a year. At a time when ! certain powerful nations are openly coveting the overseas possessions of others and showing scant respect for the independence of the small and weak, Portugal must look for protection to such countries as are strong and trustworthy. She has, it is true, signed a pact of non-aggression with resurgent Spain. But- it is still uncertain whether Spain is altogether free of alien influence in foreign policy. Besides, it is Spain of the Falange, in whose still undefined imperialist dreams floats the promise of pan-Iberianism. Portugal cannot afford to take risks. She is turning again towards her oldest ally. England. ALTERNATIVE NAVAL BASE. The same trends and uncertainties of European policies have compelled England in her turn to look carefully I to the defences and communications j of her scattered Empire. Portugal lies j contiguous to the longest and shortest | sea route from England to Africa, Asia, nnd Australia and New Zealand. Were the British Fleet ever unable temiporarily to use Gibraltar as a base, the Tagus at Lisbon would be the best substitute. No one has forgotten that it was from Portugal that Wellington set out to overthrow Napoleon. Portuguese hospitality and collaboration have been, are, and will always be invaluable factors in British strategy. Notwithstanding the community of Anglo-Portuguese interests the smooth working of the Alliance is not to be taken light-heartedly for granted. It is scarcely to be wpndered at'in these days of belligerent propaganda that interested Powers are trying to coax the Portuguese into believing that their ■association with Britain will prove ultimately to be unprofitable. Dr. Salazar has appealed to foreigners not to be jealous of each other's propaganda. As far as Britain is concerned he is justified, perhaps, in belittling the consequences of Axis advertising. A recent exhibition of Italian books at Coimbra was raided during the night, the culprits leaving word to i the effect that the Portuguese people had no wish to associate any more closely with the Italians. | A NATURAL DESIRE. j The inquiring English traveller is reminded that it is only natural for Portugal to wish to make the best of all worlds. But in the same speech j in which he reaffirmed Portugal's adiherence to the Anglo-Portuguese Alli- | ance Dr. Salazar unmistakably warned certain foreigners in Portugal that they (could not expect the principle to be I proclaimed in Europe that foreign groups in any country were to be accepted as "a projection or expression of a foreign sovereignty forming veritable enclaves." Yet German and Italian propaganda in Portugal is so assiduous that it cannot be entirely ignored. Its everrecurring theme is the senility of the British Empire—the imminent dissolution of a discredited Pax Britannica making way for a vital, up-to-date Pax Germanica. The idea is communicated in various guises through several channels. It points much of the news distributed to the Portuguese Press at a nominal charge by the official German news agency. It is implied in exhibitions of German proficiency in the arts, sciences, and sports. It is expounded to individual Portuguese visiting the Reich, where aeroplanes are put at their disposal and everything is done to convey an impression of German strength and prosperity. It seems that the older generation of Portuguese are' not much influenced by these advances. But the younger generation are attracted by the superficial advantages of Nazi and Fascist polity. The Axis Powers know this and are concentrating their appeal on the impressionable youth of the country. German instructors are playing an important part in the organisation of Mocidade. the Portuguese youth organisation, whose leader pays frequent visits to the Reich. COUNTER PROPAGANDA. The British Government has lately begun a new effort to counter this delusive and specious propaganda. The British Council headquarters at Lisbon and Oporto are working sedulously 'and imaginatively to present a just [estimate of British achievement, and Ithe circle of their influence is widening through literature and personal contact..

But it would undoubtedly be worth while were a little more thought and money spent on convincing our oldest ally that the Eritish Empire is not moribund. One admirable opportunity for national advertisement will occur during next year's celebrations of the eight hundredth anniversary of Portuguese . independence. Most countries will be sending their best representation. Britain should take care to do likewise.

The Spanish civil war also exercised a disturbing influence upon AngloPortuguese relations. While the Portuguese Government unquestionably gave moral and material support to General Franco, the British Government remained strictly neutral, and from Lisbon British public opinion seemed on the whole, to sympathise with the Republican cause. The issue of the Spanish war was so vital to the Portuguese Government that there could be little patience with the British attitude.

Happily that' source of friction has at last been removed. It is, indeed,

within the bounds of possibility that Portugal may yet play the part of mediator between a distrustful Spain, on the one hand, and Britain on the other, for she herself is on exceptionally friendly terms with both countries.

It is heartening to turn from warscarred Spain and the nervous countries of the greater part of Europe to the quiet and confidence of Portugal. There is no war atmosphere in this westernmost corner of Europe, no angry speech-making or vituperative journalism. With the versatile combination of a General as President and a professor as Prime Minister, the Portuguese are going thriftily and industriously about their task of national reconstruction, calmly preparing at the sam ■* time to defend their independence if it should ever be assailed. The British Government's decision to introduce conscription has strengthened Portugal's faith in the efficacy of the Alliance. The naval and military missions that have been exchanged be- ! tween the two countries have further reinforced it. But Portugal still believes that Europe is not so far committed to war that it is inevitable that the Alliance will be put to the supreme , test ,