New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-11
ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL.
TALK OF AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE
TWO COUNTRIES.

TWO COUNTRIES.
London Feb. 10.-There exists to-day what
practically amounts to offensive and defen-
sive alliance between Great Britain and Por-
tugal For the past week and longer there has
been circulating through the English press ir-
respective of party lines. nervous apprehen-
sion of European opposition and a still more
nervous appreciation of the fact that Great
Britain at TIE present moment is unable to
face 1t with honor to herself Constant ed-
torials in the most unconstitutional 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
published in the English papers If the general
demands for an immediate increase in the active
naval and military strength, openly urged to en-
able Great Britain to cope with the most ag-
gressive movements that could possibly be
credited to Russia, France Germany, were
only correlative with the extent to which Great
Britain has been drained in order to support her
South African war, these manifestations of the
press and the consequent public anxiety would
easily be understood but the clamor for great
standing army end naval mobilization so much
exceeds the comparatively slight deficiency in
the defensive potentialty caused by the war in
South Africa that an impartial observer can
scarcely help coming to the conclusion that
there is more under the surface than the news
from the Continent conveys. and after a careful
investigation The Associated Press learns that
this impression is quite correct
In the first place, much of this press clamor
for a tremendous armament in order to meet
unforeseen emergencies is originally inspired
with view of compelling Parliament to pass
quickly any financial measures proposed by the
Government and to make the popular
with the people, who, through additional taxa
he cd +l,air ,,ita
toward the stupendous plans now pending to
place the British Empire upon a military emf
hence so supreme to be beyond the fear Of
opposition. Lord Salisbury himself is perhaps
more independent and more regardless of news
paper influence and the aid Of advertising than
any statesman of the day, yet at this crisis he
has not disdained TO use his Immediate subor-
dinates as direct agents to foster among the
leading London dailies public agitation magnify
ing the possibilities of foreign interference and
minimizing the capabilities of home defence
Russia's activity in China and Persia and
French and German antagonism are freely
paraded before the nation as an incentive to
be up and arming, even if it needs to be to the
point of putting into operation the Militia Ballot
Act, which is almost synonymous with conscrip-
ton.
DELAGOA BAY AND REIRA
The accounts of anti British activity all the
world over. as dished UP for British readers
are not causing the Foreign Office any serious
anxiety, and they do not include the real rea-
son for the tremendous military activity, which
is determination to convince Portugal that it
is advisable to meet Great Britains demands
regarding the ports essential for carrying on
the Boer war-namely. Delagoa Bay and Beira-
and at the same time, having secured Por-
tugaPs assent to every proposition made, be in
q position to support that country against a
united European opposition No word of this
is printed or limited at here, but it is learned
that intense pressure is being brought TO bear
on Portugal by Continental Powers to prevent
her from giving aid to the British. Portugars
Minister here Senior Pinto de Several, is al
most much Englishman a Portuguese,
and his Government is only too willing to do
everything far beyond the bounds of neutrali-
ty to help Great Britain to protect Portugal.
Lord Salisbury is determined this shall be done,
and is counting the cooperation Of his coun-
trymen to put the nation on a footing to defy
European opposition. He has this week taken
definite measures regarding the aforementioned
ports that can only be described daring.
Portugal bending to the modcum of coercion
and convinced that Great Britain is able to
uphold her. has acquesced, until there prac-
tically exists to-day alliance of the strong
est fibre between Great Britain and Portugal.
Yet, for reasons OF diplomacy. nothing could
Lisbon.