New-York tribune., 1912-02-11
BRITISH DIPLOMATS BUSY CLASH COMING IN AFRICA
England and Germany Eager to
Get PortugaI'S Colonies.
REPUBLIC READY TO SELL
Bitter Diplomatic Struggle Is
Looked for When Powers
Attempt a Division.
ISABELLE

London. Feb. THE next big tussle be-
tween the powers OF Europe. as far as can
be seen at present. is 10 be over the sPortu-
g1iese colonies in Africa. This time Eng
land and Germany will come directly face
to face: each will be fighting her own dip
lomatic battle. not that OF her friends or
allies, as IN tho Moroccan and Bosnia and
Herzegovina cases.
The British government is being urged by
the imperiaiists 10 take the matter UP i'm
mediately and get her share at the Same
time that Germany comes into hers. Ger
many. there is no doubt, is willing; in some
quarters II is believed that she has her
preliminary negotiations well under way,
while Portugual. being in need OF money
and knowing that the present is good
time to SELL is not averse 10 parting with
colonies which she cannot afrord TO keep
up.
a glance at the map makes the division
OF the colonies between England and Ger
many look easy. Tho Portuguese East
African possessions are bordered on the
south and west b. British South Africa
and on the north by German East Africa.
There are two ports. Delagoa Bay, on
which England has had an option for some
years. and Beira. little further north.
which England would certainly wish as
her share. ms they would give her great
South African colonies outlets 10 the sea
through British territory
Would Give Angola to Germany.
The difficulty would arise in dividing the
rest OF this colony. Germany would con-
slider herself entitled 20 portion OF II 10
extend her East African colony. and the
trouble would come I'm deciding where the
dividing line should be. Some Englishmen
think all OF Portuguese East Africa should
become British. for Germanys share OF the
division would be Angola on the west coast
Angola has A coast line or 1000 miles
and an area OF about half a million square
miles The acquisition OF this extensive
and rich territory by Germany. adjoining
as It does her Southwest African posses
sions, would give her that Central African
empire OF which German expansionists
talk. England. II is understood, has al
ready intimated TO Germany that she
would offer no opposition to this acquisi-
tion, and in fact II Is believed 10 have been
this to which Sir Edward Grey referred
when he spoke OF Offering no obstacle 10
German expansion in Africa.
Bitter Controversy in Sight.
But there would he long and perhaps
bitter controversy before the transfers
could be completed. with the suspicion
existing between the two countries and the
determination of both to give up nothing
that they believe 10 be in the interest OF
their respective empires 10 maintain, there
would be lots OF opportunities for squalls.
The islands along the coast OF Angola,
although Portuguese territory are prac-
tically owned by British merchants. and
influential ones. too. while Liberal gov
ernment is in power.
The great cocoa manufacturers of Eng
land. strangely enough. all Radicals, own
ing papers to advance their political views,
get their raw material from these Islands,
OF which st. Thome and Principe are the
largest. Germany would want tho islands
with the mainland, and these cocoa mag
mates would doubtless raise the objection
that they had acquired rights there that
would be Injured by the change In owner
ship. There are also a few border ques-
tons TO settle but. these aside, England
would probably be anxious to give a favor
able reply when Portugal and Germany,
having completed the deal asked for her
views. according to diplomatic usage A
favorable answer might relieve the tension
between the two countries and pave the
way for a cordial welcome to King George
when he pays his coronation visit to Berlin
some time this year.