PORTUGUESE CLAIMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4822, 19 April 1890, Page 3

PORTUGUESE CLAIMS.

(Cajie Argus.) That Portugal should wish to take the chttDce of a conference by the Powers is tho moat natural thing m tho world. Tho smaller Powers m Europe eaunot do much of thoinBolvei | but they can move tho Bphores by Betting the Great Powers at loggerheads. There ib nothing whatever m Portuguese claima m South A frica to call for the intorvontion of tho European Powors j and the British Government will be making a fatal mistako if itconßents to submit its own affairs to a European Conference. Germany is tho only Power that hiis any concern with colonisation or settlement m the southern half of Africa ; and between Great Britain and Germany there is a friendly understanding at all points. There is no disposition m England to treat Portugal with a high hand, or the British ling would have been flying at Dclagoa Bay by this timo. The restraint of tho British Government, and its resistance to clamour, when Portugal acted within her rights at Delngoa Bay, should show the Portuguese Government that any claims she can make good willj bo fully recognised. That is a very different thine from admitting the right of Portugal to rulo wherever she has sent out parties of negro "aoldiors" with little ilags as blio has lately been doing