The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1889. ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2312, 23 December 1889, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1889. ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL.

As the relations between England and Portugal are evidently exceedingly strained, it will be of interest to endeavor to ascertain what are the circumstances which have led up to the present difficulty. The following, taken from a Home paper of date Oct 24, throws come light on the question :— " A communication from Blantyre, a Scotch settlement m the Nyassa country, dated 16 th August, conveys the information that the Portugese were sending up an expedition under Major Serpa Pinto, and the latest news was that he had an army of 700 well armed Zulus ; and was then, m the Mazinjiri country, proceeding with the intention of fighting the Mafcololo tribes, who occupy the country south of the Nyassa, and between the Shire and the Rebfubwe, two tributaries of the Zambesi. . Consul Johnst6n, having arrived m Her Majesty's ship Stork off the Zambesi, entered by the Chindi mouth, and ia a steam launch ascended the river as far j as Vicenti. He communicated direct with the African Lake Company's steamer .James Stevenson, and m her ascended the Shire. He overtook Serpa Pinto's party as they were advancing on the Makololo country, and asked the Portugese leader not to pass through. It was. only when he was informed that it would cause a rupture between Portugal and England that Major Serpa Pinto agreed to this. Ascending a little farther to the Ruo River, Consul Johnston gave to the Makololo tribes British flags, and he has since made formal treaties with other Makololo chiefs. This will be a great encouragement to those small bands who are still holding out against the Arab tribes on the Stevenson road." Another English paper, of a fortnight's later date (November 8) mentions that Captain Lugard had sailed for Mombaesa with a view of accompanying a railway prospecting party under Mr George Mackenzie and Colonel Evan Smith, their object being to lay down a narrow guage railway of some 200 miles m length. . Referring to this the London correspondent of the " Manchester Guardian" says that Captain Lugard is greatly pleased at the action of Consul Johnston m planting the British flag m the Upper Shire region, but maintains that England must not rest here and urges that the New South Africa Company should follow up Mr Johnston's action and cooperate with the Lakes Company m taking active possession of that region. The " Guardian's" correspondent adds "that our Foreign Office thoroughly approves of what Mr Johnston has done, and means to support him, is, I think, dear from the fact, which I learn on the best authority, that at this moment one of out gunboats is on the Zambesi, partly to establish the international footing of the navigation of that river and partly to act m case of emergency. One of the first things Mr Cecil Rhodes did on his arrival m South Africa (for which he sailed early m August last) was to send out three expeditions into different parts of Mata- i beleland and regions around, partly to come to friendly terms with tha chiefs and sub^chiefs and partly to 'prospect.' It is just possible that one or other of these parties may come into contact with the Portuguese expeditions which, it is telegraphed from Lisbon, are exploring the rivers which Sow through Mashonaland. In this action I learn that Mr Rhodes will receive the active support of Lord Salisbury, who has at last made up his mind to ( stand no more nonsense ' from Portugal. Short work will be made of any pretensions efre may put forward as to suzerainty over any of j the territory which the South African Company may claim as within the limits pi their charter." Portugal has put forward such a claim, and moreover has offered to the natives (the Makololo) the protection of her flag, on their surrendering to her the flags given them by Consul Johnston pn behalf of the British Government, The English Government is evidently determined not to pocket the insult and the cipher orders u»buS!? to the naval commander on the Zanzibar station anu the ordering of the Mediterranean and Channel fleets to their respective depots to take m stores are very plain indications that either Portugal must give way or there will be some reckoning to be done. It is scarcely to be believed that that country will defy the power of England, notwithstanding the moral support of France and Spain, and no dpnbt we shall soon hear of the difficulty having been diplomatically arranged. If not, there will certainly be a declaration of war.