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Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 699, 8 May 1916, Page 6

| A Minister representing a nation does nol usually leave the capital of | the country lo which he is appointed ■without serious reason, and usually I the reason is well advertised before jhe does leave. Therefore the statement that the Brazilian Minister to jßcrlin has gone to live in Switzerland because living is cheaper there 'than in Berlin, may not be so unimportant as it seems. Switzerland is hardly an appropriate place of adIministration for a legation whose [business is to represent the Brazilian Government in Germany. Of course, ithe simple explanation may be true, 'and even if there were a break between Germany and the great South American Republic, it would probably have little effect on the course of war, bill there have been indications of late that Bi'azil has small [sympathy for Germany. Months ago Iwe heard a rumour that Brazil, iwhich is feeling the shortage of j shipping nol less than the rest of the World, was proposing to take over 'certain German ships interned in heliports in satisfaction for some millions of marks which Germany owes iher for coffee. Nothing came of that, 'hut the anti-German feeling of this (republic of 20,000.000 citizens was ! plainly displayed when the news of j Portugal's entry into the war was j announced. Brazil is a daughter of i Portugal, more Portuguese in language, customs, and sympathies than 'the United Stales is Anglo-Saxon, |and, unlike the United Stales, she separated from Portugal amicably, land without bloodshed.' 'fhe proi Ally demonstrations in Bio de Janeiro I were not only an indication of Brazil's feeling for Portugal; they be;speak a spontaneous feeling Ihroughiout much of South America. So much I for the national spirit, hut the other 'day an incident happened to test il j.still further, and that was the torpedoing of the Brazilian steamer Rio Branca. II created a sensation in | Brazil, anil the Government notified the German Legation thai il had ordered an urgent enquiry so that it might take action in defence of Brazilian rights. It causes one to won- , der whether there is any connection between this action and the Brazilian Minister's retirement to Switzerland. ...__,'