ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7525, 15 April 1890, Page 5

ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL.

PORTUGUESE OPERATIONS ON THE SHIRE [P-O- PBESS AS3OCIATION4 Received Apj-l-s£h, 1_» «____ LoSDON, April 14. It is rumored that the Portuguese have despatched troops and artillery to attack linponda, in the Shir, district.

One of the most interesting papers in a blue book recently presented to the Imperial Parliament is a despatch from Mr Consul Johnston, dated August 26th, 1889, in which is described an interview on tb e banks of the Shire with Major Serpa Pinto, who was in command of a force ot 731 men. Mr Johnston says :— *' He Informed mc, tirst, that he was conducting a scientific expedition into Nyassaland, and wished to pass through the Makaiolo country, but that the Makololo chiefs tfHstigatedi he said, by Mr John Moir, of the African Lakes Company) had refused to let him pass. He wished mc to reason with them and induce them to withdraw this opposition, otherwise there would be war. No chief in Africa had .topped him yet, and if the Makololo resisted him, the coiise* quences to them would be serious, as his 731 armed men would' make short work of their resistance. He was quite prepared for war, but he, nevertheless, would prefer a peaceful transit across their country on his way " to that Portuguese subject, Imponda;" on Lake Nyassa, and so on, with much reiteration and volubility. When able to reply, I stated first that I felt sure the liakololo would never consent to the passage of such a large armed expedition through their country, as they disliked the PortuKaese.-and suspected them dt political designs upon their territory. War between the Portuguese and the Makololo would close the Shir, and seriously jeopardise the lives and property of British subjects in the Shir. Highlands, besides which, as it would arise from Portuguese agression, it might have a serious effect on the relations between England and Portugal. I further reminded Major Serpa Pinto that his Government had distinctly assured ours that his mission was not to the Nyassa territories, but the River Loangwa and Upper Zambesi (this assurance was given bySenhor Barros Gomes to Mr Petre in my presence):* Major Serpa Pinto admitted that bis original aim was the River Loangwa, but' that owing to troubles and insurrections within the Makanga country, he had thought of going to the Loangwa by Lake Nyassa. Besides, he added, I wish to make treaties along the upper part of the Loangwa and Western Nyassa, and I may as well begin there, and not lower down, as I had at first intended. It is easier to descend the stream than to ascend it."