Year: 1875

tugal concerning the disputed possession OF Deagoa
Bay, in South Africa The commendable desire |
evnccd by Her Britannia Msjesty's government and
people to sec the principle OF peaceful arbitration be-
tween nations established in the interest Of universal
brotherhood cannot be highly praised by the cit-
zens Of other countries particularly II is .1-
possible avoid smile however the results thus
far Of English efforts in that direction; and
30 an American residing in England the tone
of subdued bewilderment and uncertainty among
the people caused by the announcement of this
last decision is positively comical The newspapers
too IN their solemn way the position Of af
fairs quiet dry manner, which has convulsed me-
at least with merrinfcnt One journal publishing the
decision remarks with the air Of puzzled philosopher
who is scratching his head vain effort 'put this
and that together that 'every arbitration which
England has submitted during the last six years
has been decided against her, The Times recently
assumed the tone of who suspects that
thing is wrong somewhere but is not prepared to
press definite opinion. It, therefore itselfto
bare statement of the melancholy facts
and sasd;--'The tribunal of Geneva nulcted
in the Of GO, 600, 900. The En-
peror Of Germany and his jurists against
in the San Juan controversy; and now Marshal
MacMahon gives Delagoa Bay the Portuguese after
their claims have been questioned by for fifty
years Beyond this assumption OF injured air, the
T1es made expression of opinion but proceeded
diScuSs Tue special case OF Delagoa bay Win good
natured impartality which does it credit


THE BRITISH PUBLIC IN A BROWN STUDY


Beneath the ludcrous view Of the situation, however
as appears the surface, and the first moment
when the truth is breaking a bewidered people,
thore is room for much serious reflection Under that
quiet English stodity which has confined Journalistic
expression a reference the facts there is
strong and unnatural feeling that arbitration.
however conducive the welfare of the world
IN general may be profitable to England
in particular The people, their private discussions
of the subject. show similar endenoyNof thought and
itisqmte possible that this last decision unimportant
it is itself may have a most serious effect on a
which all philosophers ard peace lovers
at heart This the be dcplorcd because Eng
land the only great European which has shown
interest in this question of international arbitration
willingness to adopt it principle of diplomacy
when any important question is 10 be decided Ger
many and Russia depending vast standing armies
and loath TO settle disputed questions point
of the bayonet interests in that direction
only England formerly did. They are willing TO
leave only those arbitration which most
conveniently settled in that way aud are of nterna-
tiona importance.


RESULTS THE DECISION


The possible results of this decision in England are
altogether ont Of proportion the significance of the
decision itself Comparatively small interests are in
\
decisions, all against England the people here would
not give it a thought Indeed the facts are
such that there hardly be opinions as 10 the
justice Of the French conclusion The English neither
in private nor in the press TO challenge as a
matter OF logical reasoning and an American or a
oregncr-they make this distinction here and there
fore use itcan hardly how any for arbitra-
ton could have arisen the matter If mere alb
stract justice independent practical interests had been
n thp
first arose its dplomatiss would have yielded all claim
70 Deagoa Bay after single glance the facts II
they In possession Of them. But we cannot ex-
pect that the government Of Great Britain should be
more enthusiastic In the maintenance OF ideal justice
than That OF our own or any other country Here
with US, and wherever government large enough TO
boast claim exists the rule Of property acknow-
edged in diplomatic circles that Of in the def
milton Of BeUDt and ttlHDt-1aeun, al / get tuum
all you can keep me from getting" Willing as Eng
land may be 70 'arbtrate," she is inclined to
give up anything until for some final cause, she is
obliged to do so.


The case Of Deagoa Bay was submitted TO the French
President by England and Portugal in articles signed at
Lisbon September, 1872 The dispute has been
pending, mentioned in the above quotations from the
Times for upward Of fifty years Ir the text Of Marshal
MacMahons report the question at issue described
the following passage ;-Concerning the possession Of
the Territories Of Tembe and MapuIo. the Inv
ack and Elephant islands situated the Bay Of Della
goa or MARQUES on the east coast Of Africa
Delagoa Bay about degrees little less than 700
miles-north Of the southern extremity Of Africa-the
Cape Of Good Hope. II is nearyaQpposite the lower
end Of the leland of Madagascar The Dutch
Trans Naal Republic lies about 200 miles
interior, beyond the DraKenberg Mountain chain
which parallel with the eastern coast from
apoint 200 miles above Deagoa Bay around the south
ern bend Of the Continent tile of
Cape Colony Between these and the ocean
The cast side lies Natal and Port Na itself is less
than 400 miles south of the disputed bay These figures
somewhat large paper but in African distances
they small, and glance at the map a show that
beagoa Bay belongs to group Of colonizing
points aud commercial centres all closely connected
with English interests in that part Of the world The
technical claim Of Portugal to its ownership has un-
dOubtedy impednentt TO the proper aud natural
progress Of British enterprise in this direction Since
The Cage Of Good hope and the adjacent county fell into
the hands Of the British government the early part of
this century its right having been finally established
zaton has been gradually creeping eastward and Rorth
treaty with naive trIbes Another strong Rrtsb IN
tcres centred at Zanzibar, which is likely extend
southward to meet eventually the upward movement
Between Natal and Zanzibar is Mozambique with Por-
tuguese governor and this official is supposed 70 rule
territory indefinite that OF most Afrco European
rulers along the eastern shore II world be impossible
70 say exactly where the authority Of ibis governor"
begins and ends equally impossible 10 say where II |
docs not beginner end. II is this ambiguity, accord
ing to the English claim, that has given rise 70 |
an the trouble about THIS bay especially az there bas
been no actual authority exercised and no actual POrtu
guese possession maintained in large part Of these
shndowy domnions (the bay itself among other pars)


rnE ANCIENT GLORY op PORTUGAL


II Is almost impossible for realize in the present
age that niue Portugal hemmed IN between Spain and
the Athuc ocean geographical midget which school
Doys oeoOne ShHr with and forget before they enter
college was once the greatest maritime nation of Eu-
rope; that u was tie heir Of Venetian glory on the /
ocean, and that US bold are as celebrated in
modern history az those Of the Phmnicans IN ancient
history and tradition Portuguese commerce was
utterly without rival in the waters which bathe the
southern shores Of ASIA where English commerce is /
all powerful Portuguese colonies were planted
among the islands on the coast OF India and
Portuguese authority specially extended over the
eastern coast Of Africa, as over that Of South America
In the Western Continent little Portugal still retains
come her prestige by Of her great and
prosperous offspring, the Empire Of Brazil but In the
East sho has little left beyond some shadowy vestges Of
authority This successful dispute about Dcaros Bay \
Is remnant Of her departed glory and can hardly
blame her for clingng TO her clear technical right
ghosty MS her claim may appear from practical point
sf view


rHK CASE ToR PORTUGAL