Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-11
PORTUGAL ACTED
ON BRITISH ORDER
Inside Story of Seizure of Ger
man Ships Revealed by
Foreign Minister.
LISBON Is PREPARING
FOR ANY EVENTUALLY
Cabinet Gives Way for National De-
tense Observation-Disclosures
ton in Berlin Reported.

LISBON, Portugal. March 1.-THE
Portuguese cabinet has resigned to give
place to a national defense govern
parliament yesterday DR.. Augusta
Soares, foreign minister of the retiring
cabinet. read the notes exchanged be-
tween Germany and Portugal. and also
a note from Great Britain requesting
the Portuguese government, in view OF
the alliance between these nations, to
seize German ships in Portuguese ports.
Tranquility prevails throughout the
country.
Parliament adopted resolution CIV
ing the government power to take all
measures necessitated by the state OF
war existing with Germany. Leaders
of all the opposition groups offered to
SUPPORT the government. At the sug-
gestion of the president of the cham
ber cheers We're given for the entente
allies.
After a lengthy interview with the
Portuguese secretary for foreign af-
fairs. Herr Rosen. the German min
lister to Portugal. left mere yesterday
on special train for Madrid, accom-
panied by the other members of the
German legation. Their departure was
not marked by any incident.
The newspapers have been forbidden
to print any news of military char
acter.
Dissatisfaction in Berlin.
LONDON, March 11.-Telegraphing
from Amsterdam. the correspondent of
the Exchange Telegraph Company
says:
The German press devotes many
leading articles to the German declara-
ton of war on Portugal Considerable
di dissatisfaction is expressed with the
foreign office, which, the newspapers
claim, could have detached the LIS
hon cabinet from Great Britain by tact
ful handling of the Portuguese situa-
ton.
The German minister at Lisbon
probably will retire from the diplo-
matte service. The Portuguese minis
ter with the personnel of the legation.
left Berlin last night.
Germany has asked Spain to repre-
sent German interests at Lisbon. This
action recalls the fact that Switzerland
was asked to represent Germany at
Rome after the breach of diplomatic
relations caused by Italy's declaration
Of war against Austria. German inter-
ests in the more important capitals
London, Paris and Petrograd-are in
the hands of the American ambassa
doris there.
Germany Fearful.
Germany declared war on Portugal
according to a British diplomat in close
touch with the situation. because she
feared other countries might do what
Portugal has done, as the seizure of
German ships makes a submarine cam
paign much less effective in that 1t in
creases the available tonnage. This of
fetal declared that Portugal only ex-
ercised her rights of eminent domain.
and took the ships with a promise to
make compensation because she is in
vital need of more vessels.
He pointed to the fact that Italy, which
is not at war with Germany. did the same
thing without serious protest from Berlin.
1t was announced in the British house
of commons February 20 that the Italia
government had requisitioned thirty-four
of the thirty seven German steamers in
termed in Italian ports.
Berlin View of Situation.
BERLIN, March 1.-THE news of the
declaration Of war on Portugal evoked
hardly more than passing interest here
The Lokal Anzeiger. expressing the gen.
eral view, says that the declaration which
is hardly more than the recognition of
existing conditions. will not have any di-
rect military effect on the course of the
war.
There was not even a gathering of the
idle curious in front of the Portuguese
legation. Portuguese Minister Paes left
Berlin last night on a special train placed
at his disposal by the government At
taches of the legation left Thursday fore
noon and other members of the legation