THE PORTUGUESE QUESTION.

Evening Star, Issue 8115, 15 January 1890, Page 1

THE PORTUGUESE QUESTION.

We cannot but think that the action of Portugal in regard to South Africa lias been forced upon the King's Ministers by the revolutionary party in the Portuguese Parliament, who hope, by involving the country in trouble, to find the chance of carrying out their own views. It is evident, from recent cablegrams, that the just representations of the English Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs have had due weight in the proper quarter ; but that pressure by excited popular feeling in Lisbon, has been brought to bear, in order to prevent, or indefinitely delay, a settlement. Lord Salisbury has consequently been constrained to make it clearly understood that England will stand no further nonsense in the matter. The repeated insults to her flag are of little account, considering from whence they come; but very material interests are at stake, and these Her Majesty's advisers will not permit to be endangered. The sending of an ultimatum to an old and heretofore staunch ally is a very serious step to take; but we may be sure it has been taken with a due sense of responsibility, and on tho realisation that there' was no further hope from diplomacy. Should Portugal, given over to bad counsels, remain obdurate—which we are glad to note by the most recent advices is not likely—we might expect to hear of an effective blow being directly struck at the South African possessions which she has held so long to such little good purpose. As to maintaining a war with England, the idea is simply preposterous, and we can hardly conceive that it can be entertained even by the most frantic of the Lisbon proletariat. It seems now that, at the eleventh hour, good sense will prevail, and the mischief be avoided which would inevitably result from a breach between two friendly nations whose commercial relations are of the most intimate character.

South Africa being a part of the world not very well known geographically or otherwise, many people possibly are, now that a crisis seems imminent, saying to themselves " What is it all about V The points at issue will be best understood by reference to the despatch of the Secretary of State to Mr Petre, the Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Lisbon, which formed the basis of the diplomatic negotiations so unsatisfactorily concluded. Lord Salisr.uuv, under date 9th November, acknowledges thereceipt from Portugal of a Pi oval Decree which purports to place a large territory, comprising a great part of Masbonaland and immense tracts to the northward, approaching the frontiers of the Congo Free Stated and tho watershed of Lake Nyassa, under Portuguese administration. The Minister is instructed to remind the Portuguese Government that Masbonaland is under British influence, and to represent that England does not recognise the claim of Portugal to any portion of that territory, nor to tho country north of the Zambesi. In regard to Mashonaland, the well-defined rights cf England were conceded, it is stated, by the agreement of February, 1888, with LonExr.ALA, the ruler of that district and Makalaka-land, which duly notified to Portugal and officially published in Cape Colony. As to the territory north of the Zambesi, indicated in the Royal Decree, Lord Salisbury declares that tho claims of Portugal arc inconsistent with British rights established by settlement upon the Shire River and the coasts of Lake Xyassa. " Beyond "this, they assert the jurisdiction of " Portugal over vast tracts which are "still unoccupied, but the knowledge "of which is principally due to British "explorers." Mr Petre is further instructed to refer the Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs to the memorandum submitted to him in August, 1887, in which it was set forth that "Her Majesty's Govern"meut protested against any claims "in no degree founded on occupation, " and that they could not recognise the " sovereignty of Portugal in territory of " which she had not practically taken "possession, and in which she was "represented by no authority capable "of exercising the ordinary rights of "sovereignty." This declaration, it may be noted, is in accordance with recognised international law, the breach of which would lead to endless complications and embarrassment.

The duty of the English Government, however, in this special matter, was beyond a mere protest against the violation of an important principle. Very grave issues were involved in the action of Portugal. The new province, to be called Zumbo (from a small Portuguese settlement of that name on the Zambesi), would practically enclose the territory of the recently incorporated British South African Company, as well as the British settlements on the Shire River. As to the vast territory to the north of the Zambesi, which the proclamation audaciously annexes not only is sovereignty asserted hi the absence of any effective occupation, or any claim from discovery or occupation, but treaties concluded between England and tribes on the Loangwa River are ignored. 'The Times,' in a recent article on the situation, affirms that the object of the _ Portuguese Government is " plainly to join its possessions on the 11 East Coast of Africa to those on the '• west, and thus to put an end to the | ( northerly extension of the great " communities springing up under the _" protection of the British flag." There is no doubt that Portugal has been for some years contemplating action in the direction now taken. In 1885 and 18S6 an understanding was arrived at with France and Germany that they would not oppose the expansion of her territory northwards towards Lake Nyassa; but, as was pointed out at the time, neither France nor Germany had

any interest in that part of Africa, and their concession did not therefore amount to much. England alone had, and has, definite rights by exploration and settlement; and it is only when the country has been explored and when its resources are about to be developed that Portugal wakes from the sleep of centuries, and would extend her coast settlements, which she has so long held like a dog in the manger, to the interior. "It is "only," says 'The Times/ "when " British subjects explore the regions " they have left unvisited, and when " British capital is about to develop " resources they have neglected, that " the Portuguese think it worth their " while to put in a claim. . . . It " is a brilliant idea, no doubt ; but " when we work we work for our- " selves. Portugal will have to con- " tent herself with the advantages she " can but reap from possession of a " coast behind which a more energetic " race is porfom.ing the task she has " shirked for generations.'"'