German Scheme For Portugal.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1922, Page 4

German Scheme For Portugal.

LONDON, Feb. 1. British commercial men are deploring the success attending the efforts of those who are believed to be hard at work with the object of destroying commerce between the United Kingdom and .Portugal. Since now port charges were imposed at the beginning of the year, which have the effect of severe discrimination against the shipping of this country, trade Iras seriously fallen away. The dues were increased four-fold. They are first levied in Portuguese currency, and then converted into sterling at the pre-war rate of exchange. This sterling is then converted back to Portuguese currency, at the depreciated rate of exchange, in which the British shipping companies have to .pay. The r fleet is to require British shipping to pay nearly 60 times ns much as Portuguese vessels.

in the meantime, much discussion ranges round th e JO ex-German steamers which are registered in the name of the Portuguese Government. The pefiz'ure by the Portugeuse Government of these vessels, which were sheltering in Portuguese ports, was the immediate cause of the declaration of war by Germany against Portugal According to information from Lisbon, it is a matter talk there that the formation of a Portuguese company, furnished with German money, is proposed for the purpose of buying the ships. This scheme is associated with the name of Herr Hugo Stinnett. The placing of “foreign” shipping at a serious disadvantage in entering the ports as compared with “national” shipping is believed to lie the preliminary to the launching of this scheme under German auspices. Already a direct line of steamers between Portugal and Germany, with a call a London, has hern inaugurated by a German company. As German working expenses, including wages, are on a, far lower basis than those of iflio British lines, Germany has. even without a. direct interest in Portuguese shipping a substantial advantage in developing its commerce.