The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1916. PORTUGAL AND THE WAR.

Timaru Herald, Volume CIV, Issue 15904, 7 March 1916, Page 6

The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1916. PORTUGAL AND THE WAR.

The report of a German ultimatum to Portugal, demanding the return of seized vessels within forty-eight hours, has not been confirmed, but it will not be strange if a Portuguese force is fightiug soon by the side of the Allies in Europe. The attitude of Portugal towards the great struggle has been even more anomalous than that of Italy, who is in the field against Austria and Turkey but nominally at peace with Germany. Between Great Britain and Portugal an alliance has been in force for centuries, and when the present war broke out the Portuguese Government lost no time in assuring Britain of its loyal adherence to the treaty, and of its readiness to give practical effect to it as soon as active co-operation was required. The assurance was confirmed by a unanimous vote of the Parliament at Lisbon, and has been repeated since at every change of government and by newspapers and politicians of ail parties. Yet Portugal has not sent a single soldier to fight in France or Belgium, though, still in the absence of a declaration of war from either side, she has had to defend her colonies in Africa against German raids. The difference between will and performance is explained by internal difficulties and Portugal's very limited power. An impoverished country, usually on

the brink o£ revolution, musti build up its ijinmces and settle its domestic discords betore it can send armies abroad. A few. weeks ago a new Government was formed in Portugal, and its Premier. Senhor Costa, repeated with new emphasis if possible the determination of our earliest Allies to aid the triumph of the Enteutc cause in every way. At the same time, unfortunately, ho was under the necessity of laving down such a gigantic programme for domestic reform, that the difficulties of Portuguese intervention in a world war were made to .seeiu more impressive than the prospect of it. More than a year ago a British Commission went to Portugal, to settle the best means by which the southern country could give help to the Allies". Probably the Portuguese were advised tii.it armed help could be rendered most effectually if it was coiled for later, after they had strengthened their finances and their army and set their house in order.. Tiie Portuguese iiave Jiad causa to be impatient ot the ambiguous relatioiismp, which has lon.ed them to endure the presence of a German Minister in Lisbon, while lighting against Germans in Africa and waiting to tight; against them in Europe. 'j ho office of the German Minister, Dr Rosen, has naturally been a nest for intrigues and plotting of all kinds. ]Now it would seem as if the little kingdom is ready to make war in earnest on the enemies of civilisation- German and Austrian merchant ships, interned in Portugal and at the Azores at the beginning of the war, have been seized oa the double plea that they were plotting to escape—of which dc-. ! sign there has been evidence from America—and that they were required for transport. The Allies have no need of ships for military transport. Portugal should not need them now to take troops to her colonies in Africa. The danger to Angola ended when German South-west Africa was subdued by General Botha's | forces, and the war which the I Allies are carrying with new ! vigour into East Africa should I protect Mozambique from invasion. Have the 'Allies given the word to Portugal that the long promised assistance of a Portuguese force would be useful in the offensive, which they will be making in the soring? If the Portuguese since the war began have made any preparations for such a call, with a population, one fourth greater than Australia's and a conscription army, they should he able to send no lieg-liflrible force . ,to r the western: theatre. The seizure of' German' slip^'in n% "reouired for tra»3-< Tiort." certainly appears to indicate that Portugal is prepared to take a more active pari in the great Avar.