Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1900-02-17
PORTUGAL IS FOR ENGLAND
OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE.
Ia Was "a Daring stroke to Protect
the Lisbon Governmental win
Take Vast Army as Wen as
Navy.

London, Feb. l4.-There exists what
practically amounts to an offensive and
defensive alliance between Great Britain
and Portugal For the past week and
longer there has been circulating through
the English press, irrespective of party
lines, a nervous apprehension of European
opposition and still more nervous appre-
hension of the fact that Great Britain at
the present moment is unable to face it
with honor to herself.
Constant editorials in the most unsen
sational papers have almost developed this
phase OF the agitation into a national
nightmare, which Is not at all justified by
the tenor of the continental news publish
ed in the English papers. If the demands
Tor an increase in the active naval and
military strength, openly urged, to enable
Great Britain to cope with the most ag-
gressive movements that could possibly be
credited to Russia, France or Germany,
were only co-relative with the extent to
which Great Britain has been drained in
order to support her South African war,
these manifestations of the press and CON
slant public anxiety would be understood,
but the clamor for "A greater standing
army and naval mobilization so much ex-
ceeds the comparatively slight deficiency
IN the defensive potentiality caused by
the war i'll South Africa that an impartial
observer can scarcely help coming TO the
conclusion that there is more under the
surface than news from the continent con-
veys, and after careful investigation the
Associated Press learns that this impress
sion Is quite correct. In the first place,
much OF this press clamor for a tremen-
dous armament in order to meet unforeseen
emergencies is originally inspired with
view OF compelling parliament to pass
quietly any financial measures proposed
| by the government and to make the same
popular with the people who, through add
uuonal taxation, may be called upon to
add their mites toward the stupendous
! plans now pending to place the British EN-
plre upon u military eminence so supreme
rs to be beyond the fear of opposition.
Lord Salisbury himself is perhaps more
independent and more regardless of news
papar influence and the aid of advertising
than any statesman of the day, yet at
this crisis he has not disdained to use his
immediate subordinates as direct agents
TO foster among leading London dallies,
public agitation, magnlfying the posi-
Dilities OF foreign interference and mini.
MIXING the capabilities of home defense
D,,.. .i.,a.
and French and German antagonism are
freely paTaded before the nation as an in
centlye to be up and arming, even if 1t
needs be to the point of putting into OPP
Grafton the militia ballot act, which is
almost synonymous with CONSUMPTION.
Portugal to he Protected.
Yet the accounts of anti British activity
all the world over, as dished up for the
/ British readers, are not causing the for
elgn office any serious anxiety, and they
do not include the real reason for the ire
mendous military activity, which is de.
termination to convince Portugal that it
is advisable to meet Great Brtain's de-
mands regarding the ports essential for
carrying on the Boer war, namely: Del
agoa Bay and Beira, and at the same time
having secured Portugal's assent to every
proposition made, to be in a position to
support that country against united Eu-
ropean opposition. No word of this is
printed or limited of here, but repre-
sentative Of the Associated Press learns
that immense pressure is being brought
to bear upon Portugal by continental
powers to prevent her from giving aid to
Great Britain. PortugaPs minister here,
Senior Pinto De Several, is almost as
much an Englshman as a Portuguese, and
his government is only too willing to do
everything far beyond the bounds of neu-
trality to help Great Britain to protect
Portugal. Lord Salisbury is determined
that this shall be done, and is counting on
the cooperation of his countrymen to put
the nation on footing to defy European
opposition.
Events.