Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1900-02-16
PORTUGAL IS FOR ENGLAND
OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE.
u Was . Daring 1sPoks C. Protect
the LIshOA GOveraaens-N Win
Take . Vast Army ~ Well ~
. Navy.

London, Feb. ls.-There exista what
practically amounts to an offensive aud
defensive alliance between Great Britain
and Portugal. For the past week and
longer there has been circulating through
the English press. irrespective Of party
hines, nervous apprehension Of EuforAn
opposition and still more nervous appre-
hei,sion vi the fact that Great Britain at
the present moment is unable ~ face il
With honor to herself.
Constant editorials in the most unsen.
sAtional papers have almost developed this
phase oi the agitation into y national
nightmare. which is not at all justified by
the tenor of the continental news publish.
ed in the Eng,1h papers. II the demands
for an increase in the active naval and
military strength, openly urged, to enable
Great britain ~ cope with the mos, az
gressive movements that could possibly be
credited to Russia, France or Germany,
Were only corelatiye 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 . greater standing
army and naval mobilization 10 much ex-
ceeds the comparatively slight deficiency
in the defensive potentiality caused by
the war in South Africa that an impartial
observer can scarcely help coming TO the
conclusion that there y more under the
surface than news from the continent con.
| veys, and after careful investigation the
| Associated Press learns tnat this impress.
sion is quite correct. In the first place,
much Of this press clAmor for . tremen-
dous armament in order TO meet unforseen
emergencies is originally inspired with =
view a compelling parliament to pass
quietly any financial measures proposed
by the government and 10 make the sams
popular with the people who, through ad
ditional taxation, may be called upon q
add their mites toward the stupendou,
plans now pending to place the British en-
pure upon n military eminence " suprems
~ to be beyond the fear Of opposition
Lord Salisbury himself 10 perhaps NOR,
independent and more regardless Of news
papar influence and the aid Of advertisin.
than any statesman Of the day. yet al
this crisis he has not disdained TO use hi
immediate subordinates as direct agent
to foster among leading London dailies
public agitation, magnifying the possi
bilities Of foreign interference and mini
MIXING the capabilities Of home defense.
Ru.sia's activity in China and PessiI
and French and German antagonism ar,
freely paraded before the nation a. AN in
centive to be up and arming. even II !
needs be TO the point Of putting into op
Grafton the militia ballot act, which
almost synonymous with eonscription.
Portugal Ia Ne Protected.
Yet the accounts Of anti British actiyit,
all the world over, As dished up for tn
British readers, are not causing the foI
eign Office any serious anxiety, and the
do not include the real reason for the trs
mendous military activity, which il d
terminal ton TO convince Portugal that
Is advisable to meet Great BritAins d.
nlands regarding the ports essential 70
carrying ON the Boer war, namely. De
sgos Bay and Beirs, and At the same tim
having secured Portugars assent TO ever
proposition made, to be in . position I
support that country against united Eu
ropesn opposition. No word Of this
printed or limited Of here, but . reprs
sentative Of the Associated Press learn
that immense pressure is being brough
to bear upon Portugal by continents
powers to prevent her from giving aid I
Great Britain. Portugal's minister her
Senor Pinto DE Several, Is almost 4
much an Englishman as Portuguese. an
! his government In only too willing to d
. everything far beyond the bounds of ne'
,rali,y to help Great Britain TO protes
Portugal. Lord Salisbury Il determine
that this shall be done, and 10 counting Q
the cooperation Of his countrymsn to pt
the nation on footing to defy Europes
: opposition
|