THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF CREWE)Your Lordships are aware of the entry of Portugal into the war, and it would no doubt be with the approval of the House that I should say one or two words on the subject on behalf of His Majesty's Government. The immediate cause of the entry of the oldest of our Allies through a declaration of war on the part of Germany was the decision of the Portuguese Government to requisition the German ships which, since the commencement of hostilities, had been lying in the home and colonial ports belonging to Portugal. Had Portugal been a purely neutral nation, without ties or alliances with any combatant country, her action would still have been completely justified. The war, as your Lordships well know, has been the cause of a rapidly-increasing shortage of tonnage in all parts of the world, and it became clear that in the interests of their country it was the duty of the Portuguese Government to make use of all the available ships in their harbours. This was their own view, and it was also urged upon them by His Majesty's Government. They accordingly proceeded to requisition the German ships in their ports, and they explained to Germany the reasons which prompted them to take this action and promised eventually to indemnify the owners of these vessels. The German ships had been lying in the Portuguese harbours for upwards of eighteen months; they therefore fell within the broad principle, well known to International Law, that a State is entitled in cases of emergency to take the property of all individuals within its jurisdiction and to convert it to public uses. That right is 371 inherent in the sovereignty of the State, and it cannot be challenged by any other Power. But the case is stronger than that, for Portugal was not a neutral nation in the narrowest sense of the term. At the beginning of the war the Portuguese Government had declared that in no circumstances would they disregard the duties of their ancient alliance with Great Britain; and now, as always, they have remained faithful to their obligations to their Allies. They were but following a course of action which would have injured no third party, for requisition would have been followed by payment in compensation; but the German Government thought fit to precipitate matters by making a peremptory demand for an explanation, shortly followed by a declaration of war, thus altering the whole position as regards the payment of any compensation for these vessels. It is to be remarked that Germany, who now charged Portugal with a breach of neutrality had herself in October, 1914, and again in December of that year, violated the territory of Portugal by raids into the Portuguese colony of Angola, and later by seeking to stir up a native rebellion in Portuguese East Africa. Portugal, my Lords, may rest assured that Great Britain and the Allies will afford her all the assistance that she may require, and that, having been compelled to range herself on the side of the Allies, she will be welcomed as a gallant coadjutor in the defence of the great cause for which the present war is being waged.