PORTUGAL'S POSSESSIONS.

Mataura Ensign, 29 January 1912, Page 4

PORTUGAL'S POSSESSIONS.

ADMINISTRATION CRITICISED. A NEWSPAPER OPINION". BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. COPTBIGHT. PKIt UNITKD PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received January 29, 8.40 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 28. The 'Spectator' says that Great Britain might well advise Portugal that her true interest is to accept the generous terms from Germany in regard to Angola and Mozambique and from Britain with regard to Delagoa Bay and Beira, it being doubtful if an equally favorable opportunity will recur, and the world cannot long tolorate the present administration of Portuguese po*. sessions.

An example of tho lax administration in Portuguese West Africa is furnished by the recent cable which stated that Rev. Crawford, who for 2'A years was a missionary in Angola and elsewhere, had been giving harrowing details of tho slave trade at Angola. Dr Crawford was for several years a prisoner of ttie native King Mu'shidi, nicknamed the "Colored Napoleon." Mushidi had 500 wives, including one white woman. He conquered many tribes and there were executions daily of batches of men, women and children. The 'Saturday Review' recently declared that Sir Ed* ward Grey (Foreign Minister) privately intimated that Britain would l oppose Germany acquiring Angola and Sao Thome (St. Thomas) on the principle on which Portugal is about to offer them to German enterprise for a valuable consideration.