The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-10-16
THE DELAGOA BAY TROUBLE.

The Delagoa Bay negotiations have
been put over until next year because
the United States insists that Portugal
shall prove true to the agreeme nt that
neither the railroad, harbor nor public
lands at Lorenzo Marques be aIienated
until the Brene award is complete. The
Delagoa Bay route to the sea. open to
the South African Republic. is the only
one for it outside Of British posses
sions. If England gains sole control Of
it, 1t Will be very bad for Dom Paul. He
therefore appealed to Germany to pro-
test with him against British control
and Emperor William interfered, by
bringing pressure to bear upon Portu-
gal, since Portugal had disputed the
control of the bay with England
from the beginning of the latter's pos
session, about seventy-five years ago.
Finally, England agreed to arbitrate
the matter, and as a result Portugal
gained control Of the water in 1875.
Portuguese management was so bad,
however, that the United States became
involved in the matter. because an
American citizen had obtained a conces-
sion authorizing him to construct a
railway from the bay to the Transvaal,
there TO be related to the South Afri-
can Republic railway system. To car
~ on his work he organized an Eng
TsaE1
near completion Portugal seized it and
broke down the terms of the conces-
sion by radical modification, claiming
that the American had not complied
with the original terms, thus forfeit
ing his rights gained under the con-
cession
ThereupOn he appealed to his native
country for protection. The State De-
partment at Washington took the mat
ter up and demanded from Portugal a
just settlement of the difficulty. and
the payment Of the Americans claims.
At the same time England interviewed
to protect the rights of her subjects
who had invested their money in the
Americans enterprise. The whole dis
pute was then submitted to the Swiss
Government for arbitration. which gave
judgment for the American in the sum
Of $4,000 600.
Meanwhile England and Portugal
covenanted by treaty that Portugal
should never sell or lease the road
without first offering 1T to Great Brit
ain. Likewise, if Portugal should ever
resolve to dispose of its possessions
around Delagoa Bay England was to
have the refusal. When the Swiss
award was made Portugal was in fnan-
cial distress and declared it, could not
pay, which was certainly true, as the
little kingdom was financially upon its
beam ends,
The offer was therefore male to sell
the bay, adjacent territory and the
railway to England; Germany withdrew
her opposition to any transfer certain
weak stipulations being made regarding
a right of way out for the South Afri-
can Republic Of Beers, who, however.
were greatly dissatisfied with the
transaction, as we'll they might be-
At this juncture our own Government,
standing In the attitude Of protector
of a Judgment creditor, interposed
again, Directing to any transfer of the
railway or any other property of Por-
tugal until the claim Of the American
citizen had been satisfied.
This stopped the sale negotiations
though they will unquestionably be
fully consummated in due time. Eng
land will probably foot Portugal's bill
but unhappy will be the day for Uncle
Paul, of the land-locked South African
Republic when she does, for Great