DELAGOA BAY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 451, 9 March 1909, Page 5

DELAGOA BAY.

LOURENCO MARQUES AND ITS RAILWAY. TO BE "TAKEN OVER." REPORT IN A NATAL NEWSPAPER. (UY TBLKOKArH—rttESS ASSOCIATION—COPIRIQUT.) (Rec. March 8, 9.25 p.m.) Durban, March 8. Tho "Natal Mcrcnry" report* that an agreement has been signed at Johannesburg whereby tho Lourcnco Marques railway and port (Portuguese) will be taken over by tho British as part of tho South African Union railway system. The "Mercury" adds that the agreement provides that Delagoa Bay is to receive 50 per cent, of tho Transvaal import trade. HISTORY- OF DELAGOA BAY. BOEE CLAIHS.-BJUTAIN'S PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHT. Lonrenco Marques is a Portuguese port at the head of Delagoa Bay, in Portuguese East Africa. Lourenco Marques is the starting point of the railway to the eastern Transvaal; 57 miles of the railway are in Portuguese territory, and the line continues for 290 miles to Pretoria. The commercial relations and transit of goods by this railway between the Portuguese and British possessions have hitherto been regulated by an agreement signed on December 18, 1901.

While the Transvaal retained its independence, Delagoa Bay, as a port outside British control, was a source of strength to the Boers. As far back as ISCB, Pretorius, then President of the Transvaal, attempted to annex Delagoa Bay, on the pretext that it formed the natural outlet of the Transvaal to the sea. Thereupon both Portugal and Great Britain advanced claims to the port, and the whole matter was eventually referred in 1872 to the President of the French Republic for arbitration. In 1875 an award was given by the French President, Marshal MacMahon, entirely in favour of the Portuguese. While the inqniry was proceeding an agreement had been come to between Great Britain and Portugal that whichever of them should obtain possession of the Bay, should give the right of pre-emption to the other. Previously to the arbitration tho Boers had withdrawn their claim in favour of that of Portugal, on an understanding with the Portuguese that, should the award be given in their favour, they should allow the South African Republic special facilities for the importation of goods, and allow many of them to enter the State duty free. In fulfilment of this understanding a treaty was signed between Portugal and the South African Eepublic in 1875 granting these privileges, and also consenting to the construction of a railway from the port. Subsequently the affair of tho MacMurdo railway-building concession arose, and eventually Portugal was ordered to par .£900,000 compensation to tho concession-holders for seizure of the railway. It was not till 1895 that the line reached Pretoria. During the South African war, munitions of war and recruits for the Boers wore freely passed through Delagoa Bay.