POWERS & PORTUGAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1392, 19 March 1912, Page 5

POWERS & PORTUGAL.

COLONIES NOT MENACED,

By Telegraph—Press AeaoclaUon-Copyrlgfcl (Rec. March 13, 10.15 p.m.) Lisbon, March IS. With a view to allaying anxiety Hip Premier, Senhor Falcao, has denied the existence of an Anglo-Gerninn'trciity men'acing tho Portuguese colonics, lie lias also published an extract from the AngloPortiignese treaty of alliance whereby it is agreed that the two nations shall assist each other in the event of invasion, and shall also protect eich others' colonies. If France or Spain attacked Portugal then Great Britain under the treaty would endeavour to secure peace, failing which she would assist Portugal.

SECRET TREATT OF 1898. "There is no truth whatever," says Renter's Agency in a message issued on February 7, "in the reports that negotiations are in progress between. Great Britain and Germany with regard to li partition of the Portuguese Colonies 'in Africa. Tho Anglo-German Treaty of 1888, concerning which there has been so much speculation and discussion, refers to a purely hypothetical situation, and onlv comes'iuto operation when Portugal of her own free will agrees to dispose of her colonics. The suggestion that tho Treatv contains anything of an aggressive character towards Portugal is, therefore, devoid of foundation." The "Daily News" adds these further particulars:— Tho Amilo-German Treaty of 183S has not only been kept secret till now, but its very 'existence has more than once been officially denied. It was concluded by Lord Salisbury's Government on the eve. of the Boer AV'ar, and with a view to tlie impending; complications in South Africa. There is now little doubt that its renin obje:t was to secure the neutrality ot Germany in the case of a war with the two South African Republics. This would explain the friendly attitude of official Germany during the war—an attitude which con)-I'not otherwise have been expected after tho famoMs telegram of the Kaiser to President Kruger in ISM. It will be remembered that the Kaiser and l'rinca Bulow refused to see Mr. Kruger when he arrived in Germany. The famous ,r D<iily Telegraph" interview revealed rise fact that the Kaiser had even offered military advice to the British War Omce ream-dins the conduct of the war. The secret Treaty provided that in case Portugal should feel unable to maintain her African colonies, and decided to dispose of them, Germany should have the option of acquiring Angola and that part of Mozambique which lies to the north of the Zambesi; the portion of Mozambique south of the Zambesi falling tt> Great Britain. It is, therefore, quite correct to say that the Treaty refers to a "purely hypothetical" situation. At the same time this "hypothetical" situation was at that lime regarded so imminent that to this day Chauvinist quarters in Germany entertain the firm conviction that the situation was saved for Portugal by Great Britain herself, who had merely used the Treaty as a lever to obtain strategical nid' industrial concessions from Portugal.