CO129-457 - Public Offices - 1919 — Page 597

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LISBON,

20 NOV 1919

Fovember 13, 1919

My Lord:-

I have the honour to report that in reply to a ques-

tion in the Chamber of Deputies respecting the rumoured

strained relations between Portugal and China, the Minister

for Foreign Affairs replied as follows:-

It was true that China had probusted against certain

works recently effected in the port of kacao. The protest

had however been made in the most courteous and friendly

form in socordings with the cordial relations which existed

for so long between the two countries. The matter was no

diplomatic secret and did not possess the importance attri-

buted to it. The Chinese Chargé d'Affaires saw no objec-

tion to an explanation being published in the press which

certainly could not have been done had the question been

a delicate one or the subject of negotiations.

The Chinese Government had objected to dredging and

banking operations between the Ilhs Verde and the Portas

do Curoo. It was not the first time that such objections

had been raised but there was no foundation for them for

Portugal had alwys complied with Article II of the Treaty

of Commerce of December 1, 1887, the only instrument af-

footing the matter. By this Article China confirmed Arti-

cle 2 of the Agreement of Lisbon of March 26 of the saze

year which dealt with the perpetual occupation and dominion

of Yacao and dependencies by Portugal. In this Article it

was stipulated that commissioners of the two Government s

The Right Hon:

The Earl Curzon of Kedleston K.G.

&c.

should