Portuguese cabinet stated seizure of German merchant ships was legal according to the Dutch newspaper De Tijd dated 13 March 1916

An item dated Lisbon, Portugal 11th referred to a statement of the Portuguese minister for foreign affairs reporting that the seizure by the Portuguese cabinet of the German merchant ships was strictly legal. In advance was with the British cabinet deliberated conform the British-Portuguese treaty. The German ships became a source of problems for Portugal like mutinies caused by lacking victuals.