Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone angrily expressed that if Portugal did not intend to cease its colonial aggression, the British would secure a buffer zone in their own way to ensure that British colonial activities remain unaffected.
Such words were an outright threat. The face of the Portuguese ambassador immediately changed; he did not expect the British to be so serious, nor did he expect the United Kingdom to issue an ultimatum to its ally.
The meaning of the ultimatum was simple: either comply with the contents of the ultimatum, or face war.
Engaging in a war with the British was something the Portuguese had never considered. At this moment, the Portuguese ambassador became anxious and attempted to communicate with Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, but the furious Prime Minister ignored the Portuguese ambassador's explanations and instead reiterated his demands: "If Portugal does not cease its acts of war, then the United Kingdom will initiate a war."
