No. 485.
Mr. Lewis to Mr.
Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
Lisbon, August 10, 1885.
(Received August 29.)
No. 16.]
Sir: Referring to your instruction No. 4, of May
29, I have the honor to report that on the 24th of June I addressed a note
to his excellency Senhor du Bocage, minister of foreign affairs, copy of
which I inclose.
On the 8th instant I received a reply, dated July 30, thereto, as well as to
a note from my predecessor, of date February 16 last, on the same subject.
It will be seen by a reference to a copy of Senhor du Bocage’s note and to
the translation thereof, both inclosed, that His Majesty’s Government, by
implication at least, does not consider as necessary that any special
permission should be issued to enable the missionaries recently established
at Mozambique to extend their civilizing teachings wherever they may conduce
to progress and civilization.
His excellency observes that there are no laws existing which forbid foreign
missionaries in Mozambique giving instruction of a humanizing character to
the natives of that province.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 16.]
Mr. Lewis to Mr.
du Bocage.
Legation of the United States,
Lisbon, June 24,
1885.
Your Excellency: The American Board of Missions
has three missionaries stationed on Inhambane Bay on the east coast of
Africa. These gentlemen are American citizens, and are within the limits
of Portuguese jurisdiction. They have received permission from the
authorities at Mozambique to take up 2,500 acres of land where-ever they
may choose to locate, but are not allowed to engage in religious
teaching or preaching beyond the limits of the above concession.
The attention of His Majesty’s Government was invited to this matter by
my predecessor in his note addressed to your excellency dated February
16 last, and I am
[Page 647]
instructed
by the State Department to inquire of your excellency what action His
Majesty’s Government has taken thereon. The work of these gentlemen is
wholly religious and educational, and they are expressly forbidden to
take any part in politics or trade.
Knowing the liberality of His Majesty’s Government, and the assistance
always given to worthy objects, the Government of the United States
trusts that such concessions will be granted the American Board of
Missions by the Portuguese Government that can be consistently asked
for, and that civilization will be benefited thereby.
I avail, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
16.—Translation.]
Mr. du Bocage to
Mr. Lewis.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Lisbon, July 30,
1885.
In answer to the notes which your excellency was plesased to address me
on February 16 and June 24 ultimo, I have the honor to say that no laws
exist in the province of Mozambique forbidding foreign missionaries
giving the indigenous population the instruction they need, and
developing among them love for work and virtue, thus leading them on the
road of progress and civilization.
I avail, &c.,
