THE ANGLO-PORTUGUESE DIFFICULTY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 999, 24 April 1891, Page 31

THE ANGLO-PORTUGUESE DIFFICULTY.

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright). HIGH-HANDED PROCEEDINGS. BRITISH VESSELS FIRED ON. ENGLISHMEN TAKEN PRISONERS. EXPLANATION BY THE GOVERNOR OF MOZAMBIQUE. (special to press association.) Capetown, April 20. The Portuguese to-day fired on the British steamer Agnes, which was conveying the pioneers of the Willoughby expedition to Mashonaland, and seized the vessel’s cargo. The Boers are establishing a Republic in Mashonaland and Manicaland. The Portuguese are conniving with them, and their action is likely to complicate matters with England. Lisbon, April 20. The Portuguese Government is prepared to conclude a treaty with Great Britain respecting South African territory. . Capetown, April 20. Intelligence has been received that the Portuguese authorities have seized the Mashonaland mails, also that they fusilladed and captured six vessels, but replaced their ensigns. The Englishmen who were on board were taken prisoners. Capetown, April 21. Owing to the action of the Portuguese authorities martial law has been proclaimed in Mashonaland. Lisbon, April 20.

The Governor of Mozambique has communicated with the Government concerning the seizure of mails and veasels by the Portuguese authorities in Mashonaland. He declares that the Rhodes Company has broken the recently-arranged modus vivendi, and therefore the Portuguese had done the same. He mentions that several Englishmen have been taken prisoners ; also that a tug belonging to Mr Johnson, the British Agent in the Zambesi, had been seized and the English ensign lowered. He declares that hereafter only vessel flying the Portuguese flag will be allowed on the Pungwe River, which leads into the territory claimed by the.Biitish South Africa Company. The Portuguese Cortes will discuss the new Convention on May 2nd.