Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-30
EXPLAINS WHY PORTUGAL
JOINED ENTENTE ALLIES
His Nations Part in Eu-
rOpean War.
SEES NO PROSPECT OF PEACE
Largo and Well-Disciplincd Army
Organized and Some $4,000 Men
Sent to FrOnt-Not In Conflict for
Conquest, but In Defense OF Rights.


Conquest, but In Defense OF Rights.
ic1r5sspondcnc: Of, the Associated ,Prcss.l
LISBON. April 9.--lIis Exccllcncy,
Tic Minister OF Foreign Affairs OF
Portugal. Senior Don Augusta Luiz
Nieera Soarcs. to-day received "A repre-
sentative Of The Associated Frtss at
tho Foreign Oflicc. now located In tho
famous Neccssidadcs Palace whcre
King Manuel and the royal family liv-
cd until tho ! bomba rdmcnt OF tho
revolutionary army and fleet drove
them into exile and rnadc Portuga: !.
republic.
The private Office or the minister Is
one OF the elaborate suits OF apart.
r,ents formerly occupied by tho dowa-
ger Queen. mother OF former King
Manuel, and widow OF King Carlos
who was shot when tho revolution first
broke out. II WAS here that the
minister received the correspondent.
and for half an hour talked of Por-
tugars part In the European war.
Senior Soares is "A distinguished lawyer
OF Portugal. and this is tho fourth time
he has occupied the post of Minister of
Foreign Affairs under the republic.
When tho minister was asked az TO
the general policy of Portugal toward
the war. he said:
ut should he borne in mind that II
is not Portugal which has declared
war on Germany and its allies. but
Germany which has declared war on
Portugal. basinE this action on the
question of German ships held in
Portuguese ports. But back Of this di-
rect issue which brought on state
OF war. there were strong tendencies
In Portugal toward supporting the
cause OF the entente allies First
there was tho traditional alliance Por-
tuEal has long had with England. dat
ing for centuries. and always bringing
about mutual action between the coun-
tries on all the more vital questions
OF international relations Then there
was also the national sentiment OF
Portugal rs Latin country to cast
Its lot with France and tho other Latin
countries threat encd by Germany And
with these two main currents Of sem
timent. there was the feeling that the
cause of the entente allies represent
ed the cause Of liberty. justice and
humanity, the sacrcdness Of treaties
and tho protection Of great and small
states alike. as against Teutonic
policy OF aggression, conquest and gen
eral Disregard Of the restraints Of
treaties and OF international law.
SOME FAVORED POLICY
or STRICT NEUTRALITY
Some OF our people" the minister
went on. felt that Portugal should
adopt a policy similar to Spain. OF
strict neutrality Others urged that
eur policy should be like that OF Japan
not participating in the war in Eu-
rope. but giving our chief attention
TO our colony in South Africa. as ia
pan Is giving her chief attention to
her interests in Asia. Then there was
the monarchist element still existing
in Portugal. which favored joining the
entente allies. but opposed everything
the republican government desired TO
do. But these were largely individual
shades OF opinion. in the press and
among the public. In the end, il was
not the policy OF Spain. or Japan. or
any other country which prevailed
but the policy of Portugal herself
republican Portugal. designed to pre-
serve our interests and protect our
territory. particularly our colonial
possessions. and at the same time pre-
serve our traditional and racial rela-
lions with the countries favoring the
entente alliance"
did Germany commit the first act
OF WARP" the minister was asked
Yes" he replied. even before the
declaration OF war and our formal rec
ognition OF state OF war. Germany
was menacing us. and committing war
like acts against the frontiers OF our
colony in Africa. where German East
Africa is wedged in between our colo
niles and those OF England and Bel
gium. Hemmed in as she was. Ger
many made constant inroads on our
territory, although we were at that
time out OF the war. Our protests to
Berlin brought the reply that no in
formation could be obtained from the
German authorities in Africa 1t was
much the same as the fruitless efforts
to secure information on the sinking of
ships by German submarines And so
our representatives received little or
no satisfactory response. and this in
the end contributed TO our feeling that
state OF war was preferable TO such
intolerable conditions.
Going to war was serious affair
for Portugal" added the minister. "for
1t is only six years since the monarchy
was replaced by a republic The fear
ful wastefulness OF the old monarchi-
cal regime had left us heavy financial
Indebtedness compared with the re-
sources OF the country. Moreover. Por-
tugal had not been at war for 100
years. and It had got out OF the way of
supporting large and effective army
/, and navy. But with these drawbacks.
the war was undertaken vigorously
when once forced upon us. A. large
and well disciplined army was organized
and some $4,000 men have been sent to
the front, a considerable part Of them
to the western front in Europe, and a
!. large force to our colony in Africa"
When the minister was asked as TO
the military situation in Portuguese
Africa. he said
I I've have Duebod foru,,1 49,, r.