NOTES on the WAR NEWS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 27 June 1940, Page 11

NOTES on the WAR NEWS

Britain’s Ancient Ally

PORTUGAL UNDER A DICTATOR

Portugal is now celebrating its 800th anniversary as an independent State. Britain’s recognition of this event has included the decorating of leading Portuguese statesmen and the appointment of the Duke of Kent to represent her at the celebrations.

The British Government’s message of congratulation to the Portugese Government referred to Portugal as Britain's ancient ally, and, indeed.

she is an ancient ally, for her alliance with Great Britain dates from 138 K. A little nation in a war-torn world, she lias had the hard facts of the conflict brought home to her by the arrival of refugees from France.

There was a time when Portugal and her Government commanded no great respect among other nations, but that is not the case today. For a good many years now Portugal lias been steadily putting her house in order. Dictator Country

Portugal ranks as one of the dictator countries of Europe, and not one of the newest. Her dictator is Dr. Oliveira Salazar, the Prime Minister, but his regime, though anti-liberal, is regarded as the most humane of the European dictatorships and the least oppressive. The corporative constitution differs from that of Italy in that it is not ou the same totalitarian basis. People in the cafes still discuss and eriMcize the regime, and do not fear imprisonment for it, but public discussion of polities is forbidden. Dr. Salazar was called from bis chair at the ancient University of Coimbra to become Minister of Finance in April. 1928. He was asked to put the country’s finances in order, and he succeeded in his task. Four years later he became Prime Minister, and since then lias, with the support of the army, pursued a nationalistic policy. It is his rule to make haste slowly and to weigh carefully the consequences of any step before he takes it. Power Not Misused He has uot misused his power to gain personal advantages. It is related that he lived in a small fiat for years, and that it was only with difficulty that he was persuaded to move into the luxurious building of the Prime Minister’s office. Even then, when his friends went to visit him, they found that he had refurnished three rooms in the palace with the shabby furniture lie had used when he was at his university post and that he lived in those rooms.

He lives on £4O a month or less, and a. recent commentator says that the only thing that interests him is his work. He has no social life at all and, though he is the dictator of his country, this former professor of economics remains at heart still the Minister of Finance. Able Financier

It is in the realm of finance that he has scored perhaps his most spectacular successes. Not only has the Portuguese Budget balanced for a number of years, but he has also managed to make the finances of the principal colonies of Portugal’s not inconsiderable empire balance, while at the same t|me instituting in the colonies much-needed reforms. Portugal is one of the few countries where free exchange prevails without currency restrictions.

There has also beeD considerable scope for reform in Portugal itself. Even as recently as 1930 it was estimated that more than 30 per cent, of that nation of some 7.000,000 people were unable either to read or write. In receipt years many new measures have been introduced to reduce the number of illiterates. Youth Movement

As in oil dictatorial countries, there is a youth movement in Portugal, led in this case on Catholic lines. The story is told that a member of the movement wrote a letter to Salazar saying, "Premier, you can count on me." Salazar took the trouble to wire back, "I am counting on you." Portugal has kept strictly neutral in this war, and there have been few indications of her feelings. But when Italy entered the struggle the inhabitants of Lourenco Marques, capital of Portuguese East Africa, demonstrated In favour of the Allies. Brief Adventures Great adventurers are rare, and great adventures are brief, writes Georges Dubamel in "The White War of 1938." The exploits of Caesar began in 49 B.C. with the crossing of the Rubicon. They ended on March 15, 44 8.C., with the assassination of the dictator. lu five years Caesar had overrun the world. He died leaving civil war and confusion behind him. Alexander was 22 when he crossed the Hellespont and threw his army into the conquest of Asia. He died at 33, after having explored vast territories, bumbled 20 nations, destroyed many towns, built new realms on the ruins, inter-married races, and changed customs. It was in May, 1804, that Napoleon Bonaparte was proclaimed Emperor of France. The first fall came in 1814. The final disaster came ou June 18, 1815. Napoleon had subjugated the whole of Europe except England. The exploits of Attila took place entirely between the year 445, when the barbarian killed his brother to obtain supreme power, and the year 453, which witnessed the death of this amazing creator of an empire. The loss resounding, more bourgeois, but still acquisitive and imperialistic adventure of Oliver Cromwell lasted in all nine years; from the death of Charles I :o the death of the Protector. Among all their actions there could scarcely fail to be some which were kindly, generous, or, better still, humane. But the brief passage >f their glory is always marked by terrible disorders, war, ruin, and crime. What is specially distressing to the philosopher. to the onlooker, is the almost fata! transformation of the hero into a tyrant Where Italy Is Vulnerable Advocating the bombing of Italian power stations. Group Captain T. G. Fletherington. former British Air Attache in Rome, pointed out that Italy’s most important manufacturing area is in & triangle formed by Genoa. Turin and Milan. It is fed with power from hydroelectric stations situated in the mountains. Most of them are almost on the French frontier. This power is also supplied to 'taliaii railways as far south as Rome and Naples. He says that determined attacks by British and French aircraft could deprive Italy of the power required to ruu her most Important railways and factories. Because of her dependence on imported coal supplies Italy’s industries are largely organized oil the basis of hydro-elect ric power.