Split in Portugal

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34093, 4 March 1976, Page 13

Split in Portugal

('■ ZPA -Reuter—Copyright > LISBON, March 3. A deep split in Portugal’s military leader ship has been brought into the open, reviving fears that part of the armed forces might try to stage a coup before the April Parliamentary elections, due to end two years of military rule.

Several conservativeleaning Portuguese newspapers yesterday published a furious attack by Air Force Chief General Jose Morais e Silva on President Francisco da Costa Gomes and the Foreign Minister (Major Ernesto Melo Antunesl—nowconsidered the two leading Left-wingers in the Military Council of the Revolution. General Morais e Silva said that there were indications that the “forces opposed to establishment of a democratic regime were not going to patiently wait to be routed at the ballot-box. A desperate manoeuvre aimed at delaying or cancelling the elections might be being prepared.”

The general indicated that he feared that these forces might provoke the Right to stage a coup that would immediately trigger a carefully-prepared countercoup.

In an extraordinary move, the general publicly disassociated the Air Force from Portugal’s recent decision to recognise the Soviet-backed People’s Republic of Angola, and sharply criticised his opoonents’ role in that issue.

The decision to recognise Angola was taken by President Costa Gomes. and defended by the Foreign Minister, who said the rest of the Council of the Revolu-, tion was entirely behind the head of State.

Without naming Major Melo An tunes. General Morais e Silva said that he had no right to sneak on behalf of the council.