ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1995, 16 January 1890, Page 3

ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL.

Mr Petre, the Brilish'Minieter at Lisbon, handed to the British Munster of Foreign Affdrs on November 25tb Lord Salisbury’s despatch of November 21st, protesting against the claims of Portugal in Mashonalund. The despatch is as follows: Foreign Office, November 21.1889.

Sir,—ln your despatch ot the 16lh iost. I received a copy of the following loyal decree which was published in the official GtZttle of the 9tb inst. It purports 10 place a large territory under Portuguese administration in the interior of Africa to the North and South of the Zambesi river. The district, to which the name of Zumbo is gvien, appe?rs to comprise a great part of Mashouland ai d an immense tract to the northward approaching the frontiers of the Congo Free State and the watershed of Lake Nyassa. I enclose a map indicating the frontiers set forth in that decree, i have to request you to remind the Portuguese Government that Mashonaland is under British influence, and to state that Her Majesty’s Government do not recognise a claim of Portugol to any portion of that territory, The iigreement between Lob&ngula and Great p.ritain of February lllh, 1888, was duly notified to them in accordance with the instruction given by me to Sir George Bonham in my despatch of July 24th of that year. It was also officially published in the Cape Colony. The agreement recorded the feet that Lobengula is Ruler of Mashonaland and Makalakaland- Bor Majesty’s Government are also unable to

i*fcognia« tho claims of Portugal to the territory to (he north of the Zambesi indicated in the above-mentioned proclamation. So far as they are defined, they follow the course of the Loangwa River, on whose banks there are tribes with whom Her Majesty’s Government have treaties, and they appear to be inconsistent with British rights esfab ishod by settlement upon the Sbird River and the coasts of L'tke Nynssn. B-yond this they assert the jurisdiction of Portugal over vast tracts wh'cii i re still unoccupied, bu' the knowledge of wb.’cli is principally due to British explorers. You will refer Seniior Barros Gomes to the memorandum winch you placed in hie hands by my direction, oo August 13th, 1887, in which it wns stated that her Majesty’s Government protesle.d sgain-t any claims in no degree founded upon occupation, and that they could not recognise the sovereignty of Portugal in territory of which she had not practically taken possession, and in winch she was represented by no authority capable of exercising the ordinary rightof sovereignly. You will formally renew this protest. You will inform His Excellency that Her Majesty’s Government recognise on the Upp.-r Zambesi the existence of Portuguese occupation at Tete and Zumbo, but that they have no knowledge of the occupation of any other place or district, You will piece a copy of ibis despatch at once in the bands,of Senhor Birros Gomes L am, etc., (Signed) SALISBURY. George Glyu Petie, Esq,, C.B.