The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-30
Discussion Of Alleged Anglo-Ameri-
can-Portugnese Treaty.
OFFICIAL DENIAL GIVEN
GREAT BRITAIN's NEED OF DE-
LAGoA BAY.
Is Greatly Embarrassed By the Neu-
trality of Portugal-England Set
ting Presidents That May Be
Awkward For Her Hereafter
Fear of Reprisals By Russia

New York, Dec. ga dispatch TO the
Tribune from London says: The
Anglo-German agreement remains a
mystery, the Berlin Lol1al Anzeigers
version having been quashed by Of
fetal Denial All we'll informed diplo-
n,atists are convinced, however. that
Germany will enlarge her colonial pos
sessions in some quarter ait the end of
the war and will have a free hand
when she wants III in the future in
Asia Minor or elsewhere.
1t is net considered probable that
Lord Salisbury has consented to the
sale of Goa, Macao and Damao TO
Germany, but the future of the east
African POSSESSIONS of Portugal was
discussed without doubt ait the for
eign office with the German ambas-
saGor. a year ago. The German en-
peror and Mr.. Chamberlain are known
to have held a prolonged consultation
at Windsor a few weeks ago, and by
the process of exclusion, the diplo-
mats have reached the conclusion that
cast Africa was the subject which in
terested them.
Fear of Russia
1t may be premature or unsafe to
Jul THESE dI pres
sent, in view of Russian reprissalS in
Herat and of French intrigueS in
Morocco, but the shrewdest observers
in diplomatic circles forecast the uiti-
mate occupation of Defagoa bay by
Great Britain and the enlargement of
German East Africa southwark to the
ZambeSk. The Berlin disclosure is
probably accurate to that extent, but
has been overloaded with fiction res
the Indian sphere.
The British government is en-
barassed without doubt by the Portu-
gueSe neutrality, which cloaks trad
ing on a large scale with the Trans
va;aI. While the British army does not
have a free passage Through Portuguese
territory into the Transvaal on the
Shortest line of march to Pretoria, the
Beers themselves are receiving Euro
pean recruits and military stores
through Lourezlzo Marques. This back
door would be closed if Delagoa bay
were either under British or Boer juris-
diction, but it remains open under a
neutrality which is useful to trading
and double dealing.
Inconvenient For England.
1t is evidently inconvenfent for the
British government to carry out any
pre-arranged scheme with Portugal
and Germany. The Berne arbitration
award respecting the Deiagoa Bay
railway cannot be made for three
months. and that will be the base for
financial dealing with Portugal. More
over, Lord Salisbury. cannot be eager
to challenge Russia to seize Herat by
the occupation Of Delagoa bay.
Meanwhile the right of search at sea
is exercised and prize courts by con-
demaling cargces Cof breadStuffs, may
set awkward presidents for England
herself, which is, dependent upon i'm
ported food supplies in peace and in
war. The American proposal for ex-
empting private property from seizure
was not adopted even by The Hague
congress and neutral rights in war
time are subject TO the decision of
prize courts, as to what constitutes
coratraband of war.
This is the theoretical English view
of the case. But in practice the prize
courts at Durham are not likely TO rule
that food stuffs, are contraband of
war, although there is a warrant for it
in British seizures and confiscation of
rice during other periods of hostflgties.