New-York tribune., 1899-12-31
DELAGOA BAY.

The storm centre at present seems TO be not
at Ladysmth, nor at the Modder River nor at
any point on British or Boer SOIL but on the
neutral o. theoretically neutral, lands and
waters Of Porugals East African possessions.
Delagoa Bay is the spot upon which the atten-
ton OF the bellgerents and of all interested ma
tOns Is fixed 1t has long been to the fore as
a bone of diplomatic contention. the United
States even being directly concerned in the ar
bitration proceedings which have been dragging
on for many weary year But now some
harsher measures are threatened II is rumOred
that both Great Britain and the Transvaal are
planning TO seize Deagoa Bay, and that one or
the other Of them Is likely TO do so at almost
any moment. And there are innumerable specu-
lations MS to what the Continental Powers of
Europe will do in that event
The facts In the case are simple. Delagoa
Bay Is the natural sea gate Of the Transvaa
and is separated from the latter by only two
score miles Of Portuguese territory. The Trans
vaal has for years tried to get possession of IT,
but British influence with Portugal has been
strong enough TO prevent il from doing So and
the place still remains Portuguese. Great Brit
ain having reversionary title to il. The Trans
vaal has been importing by that route vast
stores Of munitions of war and mercenary
troops in great numbers. 1t did so before the
war began and has been doing so since Great
Britain has tried TO stop II by searching ships
bound thither, but such means are Intellectual
and TO this day Lourenco Marques is almost as
much at the service Of the Transvaal as though
II belonged 10 that State. Such use Of the port
Is immensely valuable TO the Beers and detri-
mental 10 Great Britain II IL could be stopped
the Beers would be crippled just as the Con-
federate States were in our Civil War by the
blockade. But how TO stop 1t is the question.
Diplomatic means have been tried. Portugal
would no doubt. like TO oblige Great Britain.
But the Lisbon Government is not entirely Do
tent In the matter. Local authorities in that
part of the world are largely a law unto them
selves. Besides the Boer frontier is only forty
miles away. International law might be In
voked, but II would be TO little purpose. Au-
thorities are by no means at one upon the point
whether or not il is breach Of neutrality for
a neutral 10 permit the passage OF military sup
plies or even OF military forces. across its ter
ritory. or course, II il gives such privileges TO
one belligerent ii must also give them to the
other. But the Beers do not import troops as
troops through Deagoa Bay, and the British
would not want to send troops thither except
In full fighting trim. So even If Portugal were
convicted of permitting the transit of goods for
the Beers across her land Great Britain could
make no complaint. The same privilege would
be granted TO her II she wanted II, but she does
not want II, for 1t would be of no service to
her
Our contributor "Ex-Attache" on another
page Of this paper, suggests however, an
effective method of procedure ON the part OF
Great Britain. There is in existence, he tells u.s.
a treaty under the terms OF which Great Britain
has the right to effect a military and naval oc
cupation OF Delagoa Bay, and to use that place
as base Of operations against the Beers. That