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

mutual cotton between the countries
on all the more vital questions Of in
ternational relations. Then there was
also he national sentiment Of Portu-
gal as q Latin country to cast its lot
with France and the other Latin
countries threatened by Germany. And
with these two main currents Of senti-
ment, there was the feeling that the
cause Of the entente allies represented
tn Y Of liberty. Justice and hui
mainly, the ~Sacredness of treaties and
the protection oe great and small
states alike. as against a Teutonic pol
Icy OF aggression, conquest and gem
eral disregard Of the restraints Of
treaties n Of International law.
Neutrality impossible.
went on, felt. that Portugal should
ADEPT a policy similar to Spain, Of
strict neutrality. Others urged that
our policy should be like that of ia
pan. not participating in the war in
Europe. 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
monarchfst 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
PAOAASs LII Ill0 C11u, IL WAS
not the policy of Spain. or japan or
any other country which prevailed.
but h policy of Portugal herself, re-
publican Portugal, designed to pre-
serve our interests and protect our
territory. particularly our colonial
possessions, and at the same time pre-
serve our traditional n racial rela-
tons with the countries favoring the
entente alliance"
did Germany commit the first act
Of WARP" the minister asked.
German Menaced Country.
"Yes." be replied. "even before the
declaration of war and our formal
recognition of a state of war, Ger
many was menacing us and commit
ting Warlike acts against the frontiers
of our colIny in Africa, where Ger
man East Africa is wedged in between
our colonies and those Of England and
Belgium. Hemmed in IS she was,
our territory, although we were at
that time out of Our protests
to Berlin brought the reply that no
information could be obtained from
the German authorities in Africa. It
was much the same as the fruitless
efforts to secure information on the
sinking of ships by German subma-
.rines. And SO our representatives re-
ceived little or no satisfactory re-
sponse. and this is the end contribut-
ed to u feeling that a state of war
was preferable to such intolerable
conditions.
Going to war W.. a serious affair
for Portugal" added the minister, "for
1t Is only six ear since the mon
archy was replaced by'a republic. The
fearful wastefulness OF the old mon
archial regime had left us a heavy
financial Indebtedness compared with
the resources of the country. More
over, Portugal had not been at war
for a hundred years. and 1t had got
out of h way of supporting a large
and effective army and navy. But with
these drawbacks. the war was UNDER
taken vigorously when once forced up
on us. A large and we'll disciplined
army was organized and some 80, 900
men have been sent to the front, a
considerable part Of them to the west
ern front in Europe, and a large force
to u colony in Africa"
When the minister vas asked as to
the military situation in Portuguese
Africa, he said:
Hold Part of German Colony.
I'VE have pushed forward into Ger
nan East Africa until our troops now
hold a considerable portion of the
German colony. The English and
Belgian forces had already advanced
from the north and west. taking large
sections Of country. 90 that with these
losses of territory to u troops and
to our allies, Germany's colony of
East Africa 10 practically at an end.
There 10 still some resistance in the
Africa hal passed into the possession