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Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 42

pioning small nationalities, may be satisfied that we are not merely doing the right thing morally, but are reaping in quiet ways no small political profit. Portugal is a case in point. Wedged in between the British South and Central African possessions and German East Africa lies the immense and rich colony of Portuguese East Africa. Much British capital and enterprise are sunk in the development of this

ago the total turnover of our trade with Portuguese East Africa reached nearly a million and a-half sterling. Nor should it be forgotten that the Transvaal colony finds a ready outlet to the sea over the Delagoa Bay railways which runs for 57 miles through Portuguese territory. An 1 with the mother country our commercial relations are still more important. Our trade with Portugal is worth upwards of

meroe as a friendly bond between nations is a platitude nowadays. Often, however, the purely political ways in which international friendships act are less obvious, though they may be equally important. Two points in particular are worth attention, if we could properly estimate the value to us of the Portuguese understanding ; and these points can best be seized by a glance at that strange record of con-

of our Central Africa Protectorate. It drains through the Shire River into the Zambesi ; and we can realise how much the goodwill of the Power which controls the Lower Zambesi and holds the east shore of Lake Nyassa lightens the burden of our tasks in Central Africa when we reflex on the opportunities for obstruction jii ] annoyance which such a position would give a troublesome neighbour. As to

tainly be a grave menace to Britxsh inter- Timor, and support a poi ests. It is here that our entente with nine million «ouls Here i Portugal has borne its best fruit. That- 1 - being -but here is T^io* danger has been averted. Although we' easily be there bno may never need it ourselves, it is well lposition in the world tha to know that the comparative poverty the mouth of the Tacms an,