New-York tribune., 1899-12-29

COMMENT IN VARIOUS CAPITALS on AL
LEGGED TREATY STIPULATIONS.

COMMENT IN VARIOUS CAPITALS ON AL
LEGGED TREATY STIPULATTONS.
Paris. Dec. 2s-The publication by the "Lo-
kal Anzeiger" Of Berlin. OF alleged secret treaty
stipuations between Germany, Portugal and
Great Britain. providing for the partition Of the
Portuguese colonies. meets with no credence In
official circles here A Foreign Office official
said to a representative OF The Associated Press
that their advlces from Portugal and Germany
left no doubt that the publication was largely
invention They could not believe Portugal
would sign a treaty stripping herself OF her
colonies. and so far reaching and harmful TO
Portugal"
Notwithstanding the denial Of the French For
eign Office II Is believed In other quarters that
an agreement between Great Britain and Ger
many may exist. outside Of the understanding
arrived at between them this year as an out
come Of the negotiations TO build a telegraph
line connecting Cape Town with Cairo.
Berlin. Dec 2S-A German official agency
issued a statement yesterday evening TO the
effect that the assertions OF the "Lokal An
zelger" were arbitrary and erroneous guess
work"
Official circles in Berlin describe the state
ments made as quite Inaccurate"
-
the story made the following declaration:
There Is no objection to stating that the un-
derstanding had between Great Britain. Ger
many and Portugal refers only to AFRICA, ana
leaves Asia wholly out OF the account II II
quite certain, however. that Germany under no
consideration would conclude such bargain
with Portugal as the "LOkal Anzeiger sets
forth. Any one with the slightest poiitlcaI
sense ought to see that these tiny enclaVes III
the midst OF British India are the last coohIal
would
London Dec. 2s-So many alleged disclosures
Of secret Delagoa Bay agreements have recent
ly been submitted TO the British Foreign Office
that the officials have made 1t rule neither 10
deny nor affirm them. and when questioned to-
day regarding the statements OF the LoKal
Anzeiger" the officials adhered to this rule
But a representative Of The Associated Press
Gathered that the alleged disclosures were In
accurate A dispatch to The Times" from Ber-
lin comments on the "Lokal Anzeiger's' state
ments az follows:
When Il Is remembered that two OF Portugals
Asiotic nogsessons Goa and Damao. form en-
clavea OF the Province Of Bombay. the state
rnents OF the "I.okal Anzeger' border on the
fantastic.
The St James's Gazette" In an editorial TO-
dov on the "Lokal Anzeiger's" reported treaty
says II f. "A mere patchwork OF previous re-
rorts some partly true and some entirely raise.
The probable truth Is that. as PREVIOUSLY re-
ported the Portuguese possessions IN Africa
north and south OF the Zambesi Will ultimately
be- leased to Great Britain and Germany re
spcctively.
The standard" says that no credit should ne
clven IN the rumor from Berlin OF secret An
elo-Gcrman- Portuguese treaty FOR the parU''o"
- ,b. colonies OF Portugal. 1t adds
Lord Salisbury would be reluctant 10 plI'a" ac
,,sslre 10 bear upon Portugal except IN 1ta- -
~ -, r..asslty Great Britain would prefer
,,ior. herself I'm the invidious position OF
',slnr force toward another petty country anu
49, ,s po tcmptation to raise any further IN
t-ruati ional questions.