PLOTS AND POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1740, 3 May 1913, Page 5

PLOTS AND POLITICS

IN PORTUGAL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Lisbon, May 1. Ton marines on. board the cruiser Sao Gabriel have been arrested for plotting to liberato military prisoners aboard tho cruiser Republica. One hundred marines in the military barracks have been arrested in connection with an attempted revolt. London, May 1. In tho House of Commons, Mr. F. D. Aciand, Under-Secretary to tho Foreign Office, in reply to a question, said the Foreign Office had not communicated with Portugal in connection with the accusations of ill-treatment of political prisoners recently made by the Dowager Duchcss of Bedford.

' Oh April 24, an influential meeting, held in London, and presided oyer by Earl Lytton, protested against the treatment-of political prisoners in Portugal. The Dowager Duchess of Bedford described harrowing scenes she had witnessed during her recent visit to the Lisbon prisons. In the course of a den : al of the accusations in the Chamber, the Premier of Portugal accused the Royalists of using the Duchess as a puppet in a campaign which heralded a further attempt at tho restoration of ex-King Manuol. ANOTHER REVOLUTION? FINANCIAL DEFICITS. Were, it not so tragic for Portugal it would be amusing to note how tho Republicans, with economy on their lips, havo been spending with both hands (says the London "Morning Post"). Tho charge of waste and maladministration was the principal weapon used by the Republicans to overthrow the Monarchy; so much, so that for tuo years no Finance Minister of the Republic dared oonfess that the deficit was. greater after the Revolution than it had been before. The deficit for tho two years, 1911 diid 1912, was admitted to be 11,820 contos (nearly two and a half, millions sterling. Of this deficit only 1191 contos were duo to tho Royalist incursions of 1011 and 1912, nnd against this must be set tho 500 conto9 presumably saved from tho Civil List. Tho Republic has nothing to show for this great increase of Expenditure. For the schools, ajric'ulture,. etc., nothing has been done. Theoretically, indeed, there have been many projects, ,but-. practically they have, so far, led only to extravagance, waste, and incompetence. The .Republican press recognise this. "A Republican" may declare brazenly that "the situation of the Treasury is infinitely better than that of fho last_ dayS of the Monarchy," but this is an isolated boast born of extreme fear. "0 Seculo'' says that "there can bo no doubt that waste exists and has even.'. increased," and "the Ministers of the appear not to have paid fitting attention to matters of administration as. if .they were insignificant." Anything that "0 Seculo" may say against tho Republic may be taken to bo but a fraction of tho truth. The Republic is reaping the reward of its intolerance of all criticism. To criticise tho Republic has hitherto been considered, a crime, and the censorship of the Portuguese press and of foreign telegrams and the statements of Portugal's representatives abroad havo alike been directed to disguise tho fact that the Portuguese under the Republic were .not living in tho best 6f all possible worlds.

It is not to be wondered at if, when the failure of Republican finance and administration can no longer be concealed, discontent is very general and very bitter. Thoso devoted to tho Republic (ns nt present constituted) are a shrinking circle, and the dissensions of tho fraternity within this circle tend to become .daily more acute. On the one hand the more moderate Evolutionists now openly denounce "this new kind of conspirators who call themselves patriots, but who, whether from stupidity or wickedness, or for both reasons, do not allow us a moment's quiet." On the other hand the Democrats declare that the wishes of the people (i.e.; of a section of the population of Lisbon stirred up by the Democrats) arc not being carried out. TII6 Syndicalists and Socialists meanwhile sliow an increasing desire to dispense with all these political parties which agreo so ill together, and which, evenly balanced in Parliament, appeared destined to swing backwards and forwards for ever in mutual vituperation. Recently the Socialists passed a resolution reserving for themselves tho right of open revolution, "the policy so frequently advocated of old by thoso at present in power." There has, in fact, lately, benn much talk and some fear of a revolution within .1 revolution, some such movement as that which failed at Oporto a few months ngo. "O InIvansigentc," referring to the likelihood of a coup d'etat "from below," says that, in view of statements of the Minister of Finance, "if there is not complete tranquillity, bankruptcy will _ follow—the winding-up of the whole situation and administration by foreigners." Thus the prospect for tho c/inntry is ploomy. If things aro allowed to continue in their present state, the country will continue to stagnate and the finances to be nialadministered; on the other hand, it seems likely that any change within the Republic will bo only for tho worse.