Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-30

cd possessions az the result Of the
war;" was suggested.
Portugal actually occupies this ad-i
many's peace proposition?" the min
lister was asked.
Not Peace Move. (
w did o look upon 1t u q sim
cere move toward peace" he replied,
1t was for this reason We Joined with
the other entente allies In formally
rejecting the proposition. All the In
formation reaching US indicates that
Germany's military and economic
forces are gradually being drained to
h point Of exhaustion, and it was
t. s. no doubt, which led to the pro-
gaining time. Their apprehension of
what was coming has now bee real
lied in the retreat of the German
army along the western front, for the
advices of our military advisers leave
no doubt as to its being q forced re-
treat before the overwhelming SUI
p%eriority Of the entente forces, and
to make it appear. Our advices show,
too, that their foo condition is des-
perate. and n of the neutral minis
ters, who has recently spent a month
In Berlin. told me the situation was
exceedingly grave, particularly among
the poorer classes. who are clamor-
ing for n necessaries Of life and
against the government. So that we
feel with our allies that a slow wear
IL; out of the German campaign is
not far off, and h a victory is assur-
ed to the entente nations"
When h minister was asked as to
President Wilson'S proposal of a last
ir league to insure International
peace, he said:
president Wilson'S proposal was
received with the most sympathetic
approval in Portugal. and the discus
sion 1t aroused showed how popular
feeling was stirred by the noble SEN
timents it expressed for the inviola-
bility of treaties. the safeguarding Of
small states and n~ationalities, and the
principles which Portugal, as a repub-
lie. feels for the rights Of the peo-
pie. AS one of the entente allies, Por-
tugal adhered to the reply made to
the American note, in which the spec
life terms of the allies were made
known, AMI fitting recognition was
given to the high purposes of the
president. 1t is to be hoped that the
tiI1.e will come later on when the pro-
posal for permanent world peace can
be more fully considered and carried
Into execution, for it Is at a time Of
great world upheavals like the pres
emit tat new and great ideals spring
n pelng n v an opportunity
to be realized"
"Has Portugal any special interest
In those terms laid down by the allies
as to the Dardanelles and CONSTANT
nople, Alsace-Lorraine, Poland, Ser
bia, etc?"
"only in a general way. for these
questions are rather remote from tho
foreign policy which is Of direct and
practical concern to Portugal. But
Portugal adhered to the entire reply
made by the entente allies, including
the specific terms relating to the OAR
danelles, Alsace-Lorraine, Poland, Ser
bia, ETC., mainly to express the abso-
lutte solidarity existing between the
entente allies. Being one of the allies,
we recognized the reply and the terms
as representing the aims and aspira-
tions Of various members Of the alli-
ance. on which the allies as a whole
presented q solid front 1t is this, alb
solute solidarity of policy and purpose,
which Ia essential, In the internation-
al as we'll as the military field, and
It was this instead Of any direct inter-
est Portugal had in some of the terms
that caused our assent to be cordially
given to the entire document and all
the terms"
us there any prospect Of peace?"
tho minister was asked.
He shook his head and said dubious
ly: 1T Is too soon ever to speak Of
peace, for nothing I can see gives any
prospect of considering the subject in
the near future. It Is a long way off,
II fear"