ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1986, 24 December 1889, Page 1

ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL.

London, Dec. 19. Details of Major Serpa Pinto’s raid up the Zambesi have been confirmed to a large extent. Spain and France support Portugal in her attitude of resistance, Dec. 20. Cipher orders have been sent to the naval commander on the Zanzibar station. The Mediterranean and Channel fleets have been ordered to their respective depots to take in stores. Dec. 21. U.M. ships Raleigh, Ouracoo, and Brisk, have been ordered to proceed to Delagoa Bay, owing to the altitude of Portugal in respect to the territory along the Zambesi river. Lisbon, Dec, 19. The Lisbon Press accuse the English residents at Lake Nyassa of murdering Dutchmen and Austrians, and also of an attempt to murder Portuguese. Dec. 20. The Portuguese Government are favorable to the appointment of a European Conference to settle the dispute between Portugal and England respecting the Zambesi, Dec. 21. There is considerable excitement throughout Portugal at a report cir. cnlated that the Marquis of Salisbury has demanded that the position on the Zambesi be restored to statu quo, and that the Government should repudiate the action of General Pinto. There is at present a serious Republican movement throughout the country, lending in. the direction of abolishing Monarchy.

[ln an English paper of November Bth, it is mentioned that Captain Lugard had sailed for Mombassa, and would be joined m route by Mr George Mackenzie and Colonel Ewan Smith. Captain Lugard would accotopany the railway prospecting party which Mr Mackenzie was to start on his arrival at Mombasa, and which would lay down the route for a . narrow-gunge railway of some 200 miles in length. There is (says the London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian) one thing which Captain Lugard would like even better than to enter the service of the British East African Company. Ho is greatly pleased at the action of Consul H. H. Johnston in planting the British flag, on the Upper Shire region, and so solving the difficulty which existed between Portugal and England. But Captain Lugard maintains that the matter must not rest there. Unless the now. South Africa Company at once send an expedition to follow up Mr Johnston’s action and to co-operate with the Lakes Company in taking active possession of the region nothing will come of it. Captain Lugard himself would be glad to return to hlyassaland and do whatever is necessary to back up the step taken by Couaul Johnston. That our Foreign Office thoroughly approves of what Mr Johnston has done, and means to support him, is, I think, clear from the fact, which I learn on the best authority, that at this moment one of oor gunboats is on the Zambesi,' partly to establish the international fooling of the navigation of that river and partly to act in case of emergency. One of the first things Mr Cecil Rhodes did on his arrival in South Africa (for which lie sailed early in August last) was to send out three expeditions into diftarent parts of Matabsleland and the regions around, partly to come to friendly terms with the chiefs uni sub-chiefs and partly to “ prospect.” It ia 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 flow through Mashonaland. In this action I learn that Mr Rhodes will receive tha active support of Lord Salisbury, who has at l ist made up his mind tc “stand no more nonsense ” from Portugal. Short work will be made of any pretensions she m»y put forward as to suzerainty ove: any of the territory which the .South Africa Company may claim as within tha limits of their charter.]