Visita do Dr. Álvaro de Castro a Johannesburg
em 22 de Fevereiro de 1918
My mother and, in late years, my wife, always tell me that whenever speeches are being made, the best thing I can do is to listen and to keep silent. Competition on that line of business is very keen and, as we have seen tonight, very brilliant, so my mother and my wife are perhaps right. But the menu says that I must speech and you will have to put up with me. Besides I would be sorry if I did not tell you in my small way that I feel very happy tonight. I always do after a good meal, but tonight, why not say it, I feel flattered and proud. I am proud of that a countryman of mine is the object of this gathering and I am grateful to the Magistrate for entertaining him and to the Mayor and my fellows citizens for joining the Magistrate in doing him honor. And in honoring my distinguished countryman you are honoring my country whose wish to work hand in hand with the Union for the development of South Africa and whose determination to expel the common enemy from the country. Dr de Castro has devotedly helped to realize while he held office as Governor-General of Mozambique. And as we have tried to do our best in Africa, so we are doing in the battlefields of Europe. Like Russia and other countries, we had had our troubles, but, unlike Russia, we have never forgotten and do not forget our part in the Allies mission to rid the world of tyrannic rule and we will gladly give the best of our blood and wealth until the common aim is attained. And when that happens, we might perhaps, for a change drink Port Wine to the toast of Victory. It is a good wine, so Mr. MacPhie said. His view was shared by a great Englishman, Lord Palmerton. Gout was troubling him very much. His doctor told him: Really my Lord, if you want relief, you must stop that Port wine drinking of yours and if you must drink why not try some light Cape Wines? Thank you, said Lord Palmerton, I prefer the gout.