OUR PORTUGUESE ALLY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 January 1917, Page 7

OUR PORTUGUESE ALLY.

j KOW ON THE WEST FRONT. AGE-OLD FRIENDSHIPS. Tn the following interview with the Pall Mall Gazette the Marquis tie Sovoral, King Edward's most intimate friend, and formerly 'Portuguese Minister to the Court of St. James', expressed his satisfaction at the prospect of Portugal's active participation in the war.

The Marquis spoke with much satisfaction of the renewed alliance between Great Britain and Portugal in the present war. The imminent presence of Portuguese troops on the battlefields of the West seemed to afford the liveliest pleasure to the famous diplomat. "The -policy of Portugal," declared the Marquis, "in ranging herself beside England to-day is merely the perpetuation of old traditions. The alliance between the two countries is of immense antiquity. It dates back to the moment when the Moors were attacking Lisbon, and the England Crusaders, chancing to be present in IPortugal on their way home, assisted the Portuguese to drive out the barbaric invaders. In the fourteenth century John o' Gaunt, "Duke 'of Lancaster, fought with us. His daughter, a very beautiful woman, married John I. of Portugal. LISBON AND NAPOLEON. ''This English Queen of Portugal was the mother of several princes, who were all Knights of the Garter in England One was universally known as Prince Henry the Navigator, because of his discoveries all over the world. "The alliance between the two countries was expressed in a practical way at the beginning of the last century, when Portugal was the only country in Europe to refuse to accept Napoleon's continental blockade against England. The result was the invasion of Portugal by the Napoleonic armies 'The alliance which we are about to see ratified once more by the presence of Portuguese troops fighting with Englishmen in France and Flanders may be traced to the Treaty of 1002 between Bon Juan 11. of Braganza and your Charles ll'., who married the Portuguese Princess Catherine. Queen Catherine, of course, was the most richlyendowed princess in the world—a fact you have abundant reason to recognise to this day. Her dowry not only consisted of a large sum of money, but included Bombay and Tangier. While England found Tangier too unhealthy to i.ohl, she would not, however, allow anyone else to have it!

"To return to the Napoleonic epoch. When Portugal was invaded, the spirit of the old treaty with the English was revived. England sent troops to Portugal, where Wellesley began the triumphant military career which was to be crowned with the Dukedom of Wellington.

"Again, in the South- 1 African war the Portuguese sided with their old Ally. "As a consequence of these unbroken associations, extending over centuries, Portugal is now entering the actual field to take her share in the operations. As a native Jof iPortugal, I can say that I am very happy that this should he so. I thoroughly endorse what is, after all, a most proper course, one which must he equally agreeable to every Portuguese, whatever his political opinions."