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"Belief, and the Will to Win"
Movimento Patriótico
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OLIVENÇA INTERNATIONAL DISPUTE
13/Apr/2002
Open Letter to All True Friends of Portugal
Britain Gives Away Portuguese Territory
15 April 1811 - Portuguese Recapture OLIVENÇA
April 15th marks the 187th anniversary of Britain giving away 750 Km2 of Portugal's territory, in a shameful act of political contempt towards its faithfull ally. Territory which had been finally recognized by Castile way back in 1297 as belonging to Portugal by right after its conquest from the Moors. Generations have come and gone ignorant of this dishonourable event.
Risking in 1801 and 1807 complete dismemberment and survival as an independent nation, Portugal stood by its alliance with Britain against Napoleon's and Godoy's ambitions even after British troops had been unexpectedly recalled to serve elsewhere. Very much alone and weakened after the Roussillon campaign helping Spain against France, Portugal was now left to defend itself against the onslaught of a double Franco-Spanish invasion! When it came it was sudden and devastating. Where was its great ally Britain?
When Britain sent its troops into the peninsula in 1808, Napoleon's forces already controlled most of it, but it raised Portugal's expectations that its national integrity would once again be restored and respected. On 15 April 1811 Portuguese and British forces under Marshall Carr Beresford, after a few days siege, and having suffered a number of fatalities, were able to recapture Olivença. This territory had come into French possession, but despite a garrison of 4,000 Spaniards and many pieces of artillery, they quickly surrendered without firing a shot the previous January.
In 1809 the Spanish Central Junta in Seville ('Free Spain') had been ready to return Olivença to Portugal. Somehow this did not agree with Britain's strategy. Now, Olivença which Britain had considered in 1802 as an "arrangement of boundaries" between Lisbon and Madrid, but then had signed in 1810 a Treaty of Friendship with Portugal promising the restitution of Olivença, was back in Portuguese hands again. Would Britain be faithful to its great ally?
No single Spanish soldier had been involved in the retaking of Olivença, but inexplicably, instructions came through Beresford from Lord Wellington that Olivença should be handed to Spain. Portuguese forces were ordered out and the Spaniards in! What had been a day of great jubilation had turned into a day of deep humiliation and anger for the Portuguese army. Portugal's protests were either ignored or dismissed. Lord Wellington let it be known that Britain would use its influence later to have Olivença returned to Portugal. But what happened after Britain signed the "Treaties" at the end of the war?
The first Treaty of Paris in 1814 annulled all treaties as a result of the war. The Treaty of Vienna followed in 1815 which stipulated that Olivença be reintegrated into Portugal, and then nothing. Britain apparently lost interest in meeting its obligations. Was there a secret deal with Spain?
Is Britain lacking vision and willpower? Mr Blair can take advantage of certain events happening right now in the Iberian peninsula to turn mere words into something more meaningful. It's not too late to undo wrongs done in the past. Other countries including the USA have recently returned territory to Mexico. Portugal will never renounce the principle of sovereignty, its rights and just claim of sovereignty over Olivença as all the great powers in Vienna plainly recognized.
What are International Treaties worth when rights and justice are not respected? Do they only work when they serve the ambitions and interests of the super-powers? How can Britain be respected by her European partners when she doesn't respect her obligations? Britain and Portugal enjoy a long and special relationship sealed with an alliance between the two countries dating as far back as 1373, the Treaty of Windsor.
In November 2001 speaking at a press conference at Downing Street, after a meeting with ex-Prime Minister António Guterres, Tony Blair said: "Portugal was, is, and will always be a great ally of Great Britain". After recent talks Britain is now prepared to capitulate to Spain's nonsense claims of sovereignty over Gibraltar. Isn't it about time that Britain acted like a great ally of Portugal and told Spain to leave Olivença as it rightly belongs to Portugal?
Source:Rui A.M. da Silva
