New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-16
PORTUGAL STRIKES OUT

Major Serpa pintOS sudden invasion and
conquest OF the AlakoolO territOry-a district
under British protectorate-iS a straight blow
delivered into the very face Of England by
Portugal Although the stake for which the
latter is playing is unquestOnably great and
one which she is putting forth supreme ell ons
to win YET it is difficult to und erstand the rash
| re,s which has led the Lisbon Government into
quardaIy from which there can be no honor
able or successful issue. Lord Salisbury has
repeatedly declared in the most distinct and
direct manner that Great Britain would never
admit the purely theoretical claims of Portugal
to the domination Of South Central Africa,
where all that has been accomplished for civil
cation has been achieved at the expense OF
English blood and treasure during many years
of toll
Portugal possesses narrow strip of land on
the west coast CT Africa around Benguela- and
another equally narrow tract on the east coast
which f. known as the Mozambique. Neither
Of these colonies has ever been Of any use TO
Portugal either commercially or otherwise, and
both have served to retard, rather than to as
sist, the work of civilizing the Dark Continent
Stimulated however, by the example Of Eng
lard, Germany and Italy in the more northern
portions cf Africa the Lisbon Government sud
denly put forward a theoretical claim to the
whole Of the vast Territory lying between its
colonies on the west ard east coasts. The dis
trict thus claimed by the Portuguese includes
the whole Of the Lake NylsSa and Lake Shirwa
district, with its English and American mission
stations at LivingstOnia, Blan;yre and othcr
places the entire valley Ct the Zambesi, and the
Mashonalard, which is the land Of Ophir of the
Old Testament. This immense claim has, how
ever, BEEN pre- cmpted by Great Britain. The
Nyassa ard Shilwa district has been held since
the days when Livingstone first explored it by
the British african Lakes Company and by
the English and American missionaries, who
have not only developed it commercially, but
have done much 10 rescue 1T from barbarlSm
The Zambesi Valley, or rather the upper por-
ton the. eof together with the Mashonaland
belongs to native tribes and States which have
for some time past been under British pro-
tectorate, and this whole territory since last
spring has been leased to the British South
African Company. The promoters and directors
cf this enterprise, which, besides its concessions
and grants from the native chiefs holds Royal
charter signed by Queen Victoria, include the
Dukes Of Abercorn and Fife The former OF
these two noblemen is the brother Of the First
Lord Of the Admiralty. while the other is a SON
in-law Of the Prince of Wales; and therefore
Lord Salisbury may be relied upon to look after
their interests Moreover, the English will
never consent to surrender TO the Portuguese a
country so rich in mineral wealth as Alashona-
land. Ii is nothing more less than Tom
Tiddler's ground, where @ the extent and beauty
Of the gold field once exploited for King Solo
mons temple are such as to permit Of thousands
to work therein without interfering with one
anotber.n Nor when England ousted Portugal
from her claims TO the basin of the Congo did