portfolio of the Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros (English: Ministry of Foreign Affairs) between 20 February 1886 and 14 January 1890, then later the Ministério da Marinha e Ultramar (English: Ministry of the Navy and Overseas Territories) between 8 May – 15 September 1887, and finally returning to the finance portfolio as Minister of Finance and Public Administration between 23 February – 9 November 1889. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he had an important place in the affairs of the Portuguese African colonies. Already Africa was besieged by other European powers, especially Great Britain and Germany, wishing to "carve-up" territories on the continent. At the Berlin Conference, which essentially discussed issues of European occupation, Barros Gomes was successful in deliberations with Germany, that would permit the establishment of "spheres of influence" of the signatory powers in the continent of Africa. Barros Gomes was also able to sign an accord between the Vatican and Portugal, that would reduce tensions between the Roman Catholic Church and the Portuguese State, and improve the conditions of missionaries in Portuguese Africa. As Minister of the Navy and Overseas Territories, he promoted expeditions into the continent in order to expand Portuguese territorial influences, and ensure effective occupation in lands that the state wished to annex. It was in this context that the Portuguese Pink Map appeared, which delimited Portuguese aspirations in Africa, marking out an area that extended from Angola to present-day Mozambique. These pretensions, ironically, collided with Portugal's ally Britain, who had their own objectives of uniting an area that extended from Cairo to Cape Town. Although Barros Gomes later denied the paternity of the map, he was always placed responsible for its appearance. The consequence of the Pink Map was a British Ultimatum dispatched in 1890 demanding the end of Portuguese claims to territories in Africa, risking diplomatic consequences or military intervention on the part of Britain to settle their claims. Public reaction was exacerbated when King Carlos I of Portugal was quick to succumb to the threats from Britain. For his part, Barros Gomes, although not responsible for the events, suffered multiple public manifestation of hostility. Later life When José Luciano de Castro's Party returned to power, Barros Gomes was returned to the Ministry of the Navy and Overseas Territories (5 February 1897), and remained in this role until 9 November, when he was moved to the Foreign Affairs portfolio (a role he held