The Marlborough Express Published Every Evening.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 5 January 1900, Page 2

The Marlborough Express Published Every Evening.

Friday January 5, 1900. i DELAGOA BAY. " — *. The enormous importance ofDelagoa Bay as a channel through which the Boerß have been able to get arms and ammunition from Europe has been exemplified of late with moafc disagreeable plainness to the British commanders m South Afrioa. Armstrong guns, gun carriages and ammunition m large quantities have recently been passed through to the Transvaal for thereof the Boers. Of course such conduot on behalf of the Portuguese authorities is m distmofc violation of international law,

but tbe difficulty has been got over by the corrupting of the Portuguese Customs authorities who have been " passing" the munitions of war as " agricultural machinery." By this time, however, strong protests have been made by the British Government and it is evident, from the recent action of commanders of British cruisers stopping and searching steamers suspeoted of bearing arms that a systematic attempt is being made to block the Boer sources of supply through Delagoa Bay. It is a great pity that Great Britain was net able to conclude thef purchase of Delagoa Bay from the Portuguese Government. Negotiations to this end, were opened and continued for some time, but public opinion m Portugal was against the deal, and the influence of Dr Leyds, the Transvaal representative m Europe, was also strongly exerted m opposition. Long-seeing Mr Rhodes purchased a commanding interest m the Delagoa Bay-Trans-vaal railway, but with the harbor m Portuguese hands his action was of no avail m stopping supplies reaching tbe Boers. We shall not be surpr sed, however, to learn that Great Britain has informed the Portuguese Government that it will be held reponsible m future for the rascality of its employees at Delagoa Bay, and that such pressure will be brought to bear that any repetition of the arms landing will be improbable. The value and importance of Delagoa Bay to the British was pointed out over twenty years ago by Sir Robert Morier, then British Minister at Lisbon. The Melbourne Argus alleges that the Portuguese Government, early m 1879, provisionally agreed to. a treaty entitling Great Britain to land troops, etc., there when wanted. A small outcry was raised by the Portuguese Opposition, but it could have been easily overcome. Sir Robert Morier's difficulty was not with the Portuguese Government, but with Lord Granville (Foreign Secretary) and Lord Kimberley Colonial Minister). A ohange of Government had occurred m England, and the Gladstonian Ministers would not press the scheme home. The Gladstonian Government was then (1881) arranging to be at peace with the Boers m South Afrioa for all time, and saw no need for obtaining special favors at Delagoa Bay from Portugal. Sir Robert Morier wrote despatches till he was tired, and then went to London and urged the Gladstonian Government to keep up pressure that Portugal was willing to yield to. But Lord Granville and Lord Kimberley -were optimistic and inert. The pleading proved futile ; tbe agreement was dropped. Now, anyone can see what an immense advantage Great Britain would have had under *a treaty enabling her to land forces and men at Delagoa Bay. In the absence of a treaty, the Transvaal is getting m men (foreigners) and ammunition instead of Great Britain.