MR. BANBURY (Preston)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any, and, if so, what, information has reached the Foreign Office as to the despatch of a Portuguese Expedition up the Shiré to attack Mponda, and in reference to which the Times correspondent at Zanzibar states that telegrams confirming the report have arrived from Delagoa Bay?
§ *SIR J. FERGUSSONReports as to the alleged objects of the expedition were telegraphed by Her Majesty's Consul at Mozambique, and Her Majesty's Minister at Lisbon was at once instructed to communicate with the Portuguese Government on the subject. The Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that the Portuguese Government had no official knowledge of the expedition, but, on hearing that it was rumoured, had instructed the Governor General of Mozambique, if the statement was true, to order the Commander immediately to retire behind the Ruo. We have received a further positive assurance that no fresh action on the part of the Colonial Authorities in the Shiré inconsistent with the understanding between the two Governments would be sanctioned or tolerated.