A NEW TREATY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19829, 2 May 1927, Page 2

A NEW TREATY

FRIENDLY RELATIONS PORTUGAL AND SOUTH AFRICA. Although the visit of General Hertzog to Lisbon was stated by the Premier of the South African Union to be merely a frendly visit responding to an invitation from the Portuguese Government, a conference has been held, at which, it is said, initial steps toward negotiating an agreement between the two governments were taken, writes the Lisbon correspondent of Christian Science Monitor. There are several urgent problems that affect both the Union and the Portuguese Province of Mozambique. Three of these are the improvement of the Lourenzo Marques railway and the construction of a new branch, extensive new works in the port and the question of emigration being permitted, by the authorities, of natives from Portuguese territory to work on the mines of the Union. The South African delegates. General liertzog, Sir William Hoy, and Mr Havenga, Minister of Finance, were beset on their arrival at Lisbon by representatives of the Press. General flcrtzog was profuse in assurances of the friendly relatons existing between Portugal and the Union, but on other matters repeatedly answered that ‘ ‘ any discussion or agreement about economic problems affecting the two countries would have to be realised in Africa.” The only other words of significance said by him were that “any agreement made between the two governments should be based on the understanding that Mozambique will accompany, step by step, all the improvements progressively carried out by the Union of South Africa.” The “Seculo” says that the bases proposed by the Portuguese Commission for the elaboration of an agreement were virtually accepted bv the Union delegates; and that with regard .o the native labour question, Mozambique is prepared to cede to the Union a certain number of natives to work in its territory. The Portuguese Minister of the Colonics also informed the “Seculo” that the bases of an agreement drawn up in 1909 were revised, and that with regard to the railway and port of Lourenzo Marques, the Portuguese Government is disposed to grant certain facilities to the Union which if taken advantage of will bring about a great development in the Portuguese port.