Evening star., 1922-01-12
ANSWERS CRITICS
| OF PORT OF MACAO
Portuguese Visitor to This
City Defends Oriental
Possession.

In controversion of articles which
country and which imply that Macao.
the principal far-eastern possession
OF Portugal. is almost a cesspool OF
iniquity. are the statements Of E. d'Ai-
meirin. a Portuguese traveller who Is
extencively and intimately acquainted
with Portuguese colonies all over the
world, ana who is now In Washing.
ton.
Senior d'Almeirin gives an n'urai
mating explanation Of such uafortu-
nate phases Of Macaus inunicipai 80
istence as have called forth condem-
nation. together with an optimistic
picture OF the future of this historic
ceded port at the mouth Of the Canton
river. over against Hongkong.
"The Portuguese settlement of Ms
Gao dates as far back as l5o1. Sald
Senior d'Almeirin to q representative
of The Star. "and was the outcome OF
tuxuese squadron TO this authorities
OF Canton, then besieged BY the pirate
fleet OF the notorious. Chan 81 Lao.
This fleet the Portuguese destroyed.
!, appreciation of this service. there.
fore. and also in order that piracy
Int pr kept down at the entrance 81
no W..st and the Canton rivers. the
Portuguese, with the consent OF the
Lni,a-u, established q trading center
at Macao. the geographical position ot
which was most favorable TOR such IN
enterprise. Macao. therefore. to5etner
with HonskonE, enjoys Z different
standing from that Of other european
settlements in China.
Hard Revenue Problem.
This old Portuguese colony, whose
area doee not exceed three square
ki,oneters, or slightly over a mile
square. mostly taken up BY buildings
and small gardens. had a'ways
difficult problem to fase IN on.Mh.ns i.hs
SUFFICIENT revenue. Being without
any ground for tillase. Macao has
had to import nearly all the ncces-
stiles of life.
LAS temporary expedient.'
gambling monopolies were created.
and will not be renewed, their
places being taken BY other sources
Of revenue now in process OF de-
Another monopoly. that Of opium.
which. however. much az IL mas nesn
emphasized in travellers comments.
supplies a comparatively insignificant
part in the trade of that drug. Is 70
end by international agreement IN
1923, at the same time as IN Hong
kong.
d
velopnent Of her real and valuable
industries. Chief among these are
the fisheries and the cement !actoreS
at Jlha Verde (Green 1sIand). whose
products are in great demand al
over the far east Revival is con-
tan,pIated OF other industries. Ian
gushing Of late, which include the
Manufacture Of fireworks. rice clean
ing. opium, boiling, handling OF
cocoons. etc.
"I. IL. however. more TO the excel
lent geographical position OF Macao
as a trading station at the entrance
of great east-snd-west river routes
that the Portuguese look for the
future prosperity of their famous
colony. Attempts have been made IN
the past to improve the inner har.
Dor, but these were constantly and
seriously hampered through the car
rring out Of the provisions OF the
treat Of 1857 and the maintenance
Of the status quo prescribed by tnat
treaty. The works OF conservation
in the inner barbor would have oene-
flied Chinese and Portuguese alike,
and were urgently needed to prevent
the extensive silting-up. due TO the
mud which has been brought down
by the West river and the estuaries
OF the Canton river. and which
tion useless at no distant date.
ITO meet this situation concluded
Senior d'Almeirin, "the Portuguese
have decided to build an outer port
at cost of Ss,o00.o0S silver When
this is achieved and the projected rail-
way built through HeanEshan. the
port Of that name will become an i'm
portant entrepA for river traffic,
with the new harbor at Macao serv-
Ing as an outlet for the sea- Thus
will be realized the plans OF the Por-
tuguese for the transformation of
their colony into the important trad
ing center 1t ought rightly to be.
and a new economic regime Will
have full sway"