THE KING IN PORTUGAL,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12238, 6 April 1903, Page 4

THE KING IN PORTUGAL,

It excites no astonishment that an inveterate traveller, such as King Edward fortunately is, should be making a personal visit to the Mediterranean. But the most interesting part of the tour will be found by most people in his visit to Lisbon, where he was most cordially and heartily welcomed by the only Latin court and nation with whom Britain has never quarrelled and from whom we have invariably met friendship and goodwill. The reason which inspired the original friendship, the necessity of a small maritime State surrounded by powerful neighbours to make to itself allies among the sea-powers, still continues, while the decline of Portugal's ambition has prevented those jealousies and quarrels which have so unfortunately embittered and envenomed our relations with our still more natural allies, the Hollanders. But whatever the cause, we can never forget that when all Europe turned against us the Portuguese were unfalteringly our friends, not merely in the Court, but in the streets. And though Portugal is only a small Power, with little left of her glorious past to excite envy, yet it is far better to have even a small Power friendly than inimical. And it is well for us to remember sometimes that while the great Powers of Europe have, each in turn, hated us and tried to do us harm, the small Powers have almost invariably looked upon Britain as a protector and a friend.