GERMANY DISSATISFIED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1088, 29 March 1911, Page 7

GERMANY DISSATISFIED.

PORTUGUESE METHODS RESENTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Conyrizlit Berlin, March 27. In the German Reichstag, Herr von ICiderlen-lVachter, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, said that the situation in Portugal was unsatisfactory to Germany. 110 referred to tho Portuguese action regarding private property, and to the expulsion of Germaii nuns and other Germans. Representations made to the Portuguese Government had proved resullless, and lie was now considering what further action should be taken.

REPUBLICANISM IN PORTUGAL. Tho' confusion and unrest in Portugal after three mouths of Republic (writes the "Morning Post" correspondent under date of January 17) form a striking comment on the words of "El Pais," tho leading Republican newspaper in Spain: "All our aspirations centre in a Republic, and once in possession of a Republic, everything clso will be given to us in addition." I'or however dissimilar the state of tho two countries and the character of their inhabitants, the Republicans in Spain and Portugal have strong points ot res?niblance. Tho same Spanish newspaper now, indeed, in a recent article compares tho Spanish and Portuguese Republics: "Portugal and Spain, though holding aloof from one another, are united geographically, historically, anil psychologically. And in these sister nations there oro increasing signs that tho Portuguese Republic of 1010 and tho Spanish Republic of 1873 will prove to be very much alike." ' Tho Spanish Republic lasted for a considerable number of months (February, 1873, to December, 187 U. During this timo thoro were no fewer- than fivo 1 Presidents, and tile changes in tho Ministries were constant, especially in that of Finance. To replace a crowned Iving with a Primo Minister by an uncrowned King with a Prime Minister no doubt savoured too strongly of farce, and tho mistake was accordingly made of uniting the Presidency and the Premiership in the same person; the inevitable inslability ensued. Tho same mistake has been made in Portugal. But tho chief similarity iiv tho two situations, a similarity that seems to foreshadow the same fate for the two Republics, is the character of the leaders of the Republican movement and the attitude of the people towards them. In neither country does the mass of the people really care about the form of Government. Long years of neglect- have made it extremely sceptical with regard to politicians, of whatever shade may be their opinion. The Republicans are largely "intellectuals," thinkers not understand, ed of the people. These reformers, interested or idealist, live in their imaginary Utopias, mean or spacious. Tho nobler of them are doctrinaires, dreamers of dreams—dreams in which a close attention to finance and administration has a very shadowy existence.