NEWS OF THE WEEK T ORD SALISBITRY having convinced, himself
that the
Government of Lisbon was playing fast and loose, either out of fear of the Republican Party, or because it could not control its Colonial agents, an ultimatum was on Saturday presented to Portugal. Mr. Petre handed in to Senhor lithos Gomez a note requiring the instant withdrawal of all Portuguese troops from the Shire Highlands and the country south of the Zambesi. A favourable answer was demanded within twenty-four hours, failing which the British Legation would request its passports, and the British Government would have recourse to other means. This implied the use of force, and as fleets were known to be collected off the African coast, the Cape de Verde Islands, and the Tagus, the Portu- guese Government yielded to superior strength. The terms were unconditionally accepted, and the Liberal Ministry replaced by a Conservative one, which "does not ask for the support of the majority," but will "maintain the interests of Portugal as far as possible, and her honour absolutely." It only remains, therefore, to see that the submission is made effective on the spot, and not rendered nugatory by the action of the Colonial authorities ; and this will probably be effected by a visit from the fleet, which has just left Zanzibar, to Mozambique.
