BRITAIN AND PORTUGAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16169, 4 March 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

BRITAIN AND PORTUGAL.

BY R. W. BEID.

AN OLD-TIME FRIENDSHIP.

England and Portugal hare for many . hundreds of years been closely united, not 1 only by formal treaty, but also by a i sense of real national friendship. England 1 in the early days rendered many priceless i services to the little Iberian State, as far i back as 1385 English forces in conjunction ] with the Portuguese having defeated the j Castilians at Aljuharrota. But nearly a ] hundred years before the date of that , battle King Diniz had negotiated a com- , mercial treaty with England, and, says the historical narrative, " formed a royal navy." The treaty with England and the formation of Portugal's navy happily coincided. Portugal in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries became the greatest maritime country in the world, and, probably, it may have been England s dawning spirit of adventure and love of the sea that first helped to draw the two countries together. Distress and Adversity. From about the year 1500 to 1542 Portugal was at the height of her power. In 1500 King Emanuel was on the throne, and he seems to have anticipated a potentate of modern days in the high and haughty titles he assumed. The Kaiser, it will be remembered, created considerable amusement some years ago by styling himself "Lord of the Atlantic." The King of Portugal was more flamboyant still. His self-imposed appellation of dignity was: "Lord of the conquest, navigation, and commerce of India, Ethiopia, Arabia, and Persia," With both monarchs their grandiose claims betokened the pride that goeth before a fall. A period of distress and of adversity descended upon Portugal. The country fell under the sway of Spain, and becoming involvel in the wars in the Netherlands and Germany, the Portuguese possessions in South America and the Malay Archipelago were seized by Holland and England. There were insurrections in the country, a colonial war with Holland, and a serious conflict with Spain. The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, which had been confirmed by the Treaty of Windsor in 1386, was renewed by the Treaty of Methuen in 1703, and since then the friendship between, the two nations has remained unbroken. Towards the end of the eighteenth century, and during the early years of the nineteenth, Great Britain's assistance was freely given against France and Spain, and it was Wellington • who ultimately freed the country from invaders Jnd secured lasting freedom and independence for Portugal. Treaty Obligations. Portugal immediately Groat- Britain declared war against Germany announced herself as readv, " in terms of her, ancient alliance with England," when the proper time came, to discharge all the obligations of that alliance. Negotiations went on for some time between the two Governments, and early last year a British Commission proceeded to Lisbon " to determine in conjunction with the Portuguese authorities the manner and the method of Portuguese co-operation." Recent events ■ in Portugal suggest fliat the nroper time has now arrived fbr the co-operation of Portugal in the conflict against-Germany and her allies. But the remarkable fact has to be mentionedjtbat,;whi}e . the Portuguese armies ;inX Europe were kept out of the war, Portugal's colonial forces have had several severe encounters with the Germans. Early in January last year, a large German contingent, operating from German South-west Africa, suddenly and unexpectedly attacked the Portuguese in their territory of -Angola, which lies immediately to tho north of what was then the German province. Tho Portuguese were taken by surprise, and were compelld to retire before the Teutonic marauders. . Within a month, however, they were able to attack the Germans, defeat them thoroughly, and drive them back into their own territory. Until General Botha conquered German Southwest Africa the Portuguese protected the southern borders of Angola with considerable forces of cavalry and artillery,, and to all intents a state of war existed between Portugal and Germany. Germans Abroad. Germans in South and Central Africa had tor their immediate neighbours the subjects of Portugal and of Great Britain. The territories of both Powers they intended to possess themselves of at a time convenient to 'themselves. Nor did they make any secret of their intentions. British South "Africa was not to be sufficient. for them; thev desired, at least, the southern half of Angola. They foresaw no difficulties in the way, for in their eyes both Great Britain and Portugal were at once feeble, unwarlike, and decadent. Portugal soon discovered that the Germans were restless and dangerous neighbours, and she had them adjoining her territories both ill West Africa and in East Africa. There has been frequent trouble along the northern border of Mazambique; but, owing mainly to the absence of newspapers in German East Africa, information touching Teutonic ambitions in these regions has been less plentiful than intelligence of this Vind from German West Africa. / Designs Upon Angola. The attack upon Angola in January last year was no doubt meant to be the first act in the capturing of the country for Germany. In German South-west Africa the Kaiser's officials had been long taught to believe that Portuguese territory, like the British, was to be considered as little else than theirs for the taking. About three years ago a typically Germanic body was set up in South-west Africa, "having for its object," frankly announced its founders, " to arouso interest for the annexation of South Angola to German South-west Africa." This impudent organisation seems to have been established by a Heinrich Zeigler. At the opening meeting of the Bund Zeigler delivered an inspiring speech, which possessed, at all ovents, the merit of candour. "Wo must have South Angola," he said. "We must have a sea outlet for the northern part of our colony, and there is none suitable except thoso in Portuguese territory. It might sound immoral to enrich ourselves at the expense of Portugal, but to-dav even in business the stronger narty wins. ' Espionage and Insolence. Zeigler, with the full knowledge of the German Governor of South-west Africa, afterwards departed on a spying tour through Angola. He was for a time treated with every kindness by the unsuspecting Portuguese officials; but ultimately suspicions were aroused, and the Governor of Angola issued instructions that he must return to Mossamede.s. There lie was " peremptorily crossexamined" as to his objects, and his espionage was ended. On returning to German South-west Africa he published an account of his travels in the Luderitzbucht Zeitung, admitting, among other things, that he had' lied in best Germanic style to the Portuguese Governor. Zeigler concluded his version of what took place as follows: "Portugal herself, with the loss of the last of her colonies, must sink into oblivion. Poor You are played out. Healthy nations will take your place. That is the wav of the world. The stronger wins," 'lite Portuguese Government lodged several complaints against Zeigler and against various officials in German South-west Africa with the German Government, but without obtaining any satisfactory response. It seems doubly appropriate, therefore, that Portugal should now discharge her treaty i obligations to Great Britain, and, in doing so, obtain the redress hitherto denied her J by Germany, .j