BRITISH MISSION TO PORTUGAL

Southland Times, Issue 23438, 19 February 1938, Page 7

BRITISH MISSION TO PORTUGAL

CLOSER MILITARY CONTACT DESIRED (British Official Wireless) (Received February 18, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, February 17. The object of the British service mission to Portugal, which sails tomorrow, is to establish closer contact between the services of the two countries. The mission comprises Vice-Admiral Wodehouse, Colonel Daly and GroupCaptain Field. PORTUGAL’S PART IN BRITISH STRATEGY CONTROL OF VITAL SEA COMMUNICATIONS LONDON, February 7. “Britain and Portugal resemble a man and his wife,” said the 18th century Portuguese statesman, Pombal. “They may disagree, but interference from a third party meets with a united front.” The Lisbon correspondent of The Times, discussing the forthcoming British mission to Portugal, remarks that, despite the faintly-disguised hopes of would be co-respondents, no divorce impends. The British position demands that ports on the coasts of Portugal, the Azores, Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands, flanking the sea routes to the Mediterranean and Africa, should remain in friendly hands. If held by a hostile Power they could threaten, by direct surface, submarine and air attack, 2500 miles of vital sea communications. The extent of such a threat in a general conflict, with the corollary of further diversion of a force for convoying and patrolling, will not be under-esti-mated.

The importance of the strategic triangle—Lisbon, the Azores, Cape Verde —cannot be ignored by Britain and the Empire. The Spanish Armada was largely equipped at Lisbon, which is only six hours by air from Southampton.

The Times, in a leading article, says: “It is of the highest importance that these positions should remain in the keeping of an allied Power in the unhappy event of war. “The Portuguese Atlantic bases have repeatedly proved of great service to the Navy. The use of St. Vincent and the Cape Verde Islands as coaling stations in the Great War is a striking example. It draws attention to the relation of the Azores to the winter trans-Atlantic air service.” The British Government undoubtedly is keeping in mind that the north-west corner of Spain is even closer than Portugal. Spanish friendship is even more important for the Mediterranean and Atlantic routes.