Crown of Portugal

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7979, 9 December 1911, Page 11

Crown of Portugal

What American Millions Might Do.

MIGUELIST PRETENSIONS

BEHIND the stirring romance of adventure and intrigue in the present : rivalry of claimants for the discarded crown of Portugal lies an equally romantic-feud of American millions. Just what the final outcome may bo no one dares, to predict,., but it .is, admitted that the vUmax may embrace more'than one startling surprise. In certain well-in-formed circles it is even darkly hinted that the magic touch of the ‘'Almighty Deliar” may raise a beautiful young American heiress to sovereign honours, ; says "The Standard”, of October 25th. AVhon the Republic was first proclaimed and tli©. Monarchy was apparently shattered beyond hop© of recovery, a number .of large corporations in the United States indicated their willingness to 'lend financial assistance to the new ■regime if certam commeicial concessions wore granted. In one or two instances, it is stated, considerable sums were really sent to Lisbon, but of late these contributions have ceased, owing to unstable tenure of the Republican Government. On the other hand, it is generally known that several millions of South American money has been placed in the hands of the Royalists for the restoration of King Manuel. This money was lavishly expended in arms, field guns, : i ammunition*;which.were successfully smuggled to tho. Royalist rendezvous in Northern Spain. Captain Paivo Couceiro was placed in charge, and in a short time he had organised and equipped a fairly efficient army of between 4000 and 5000 men, with several batteries of field and machine guns, and a considerable force of cavalry. Matters appeared very favourable for Ring Manuel at that time, as Couceiro was confident of success, and only wailed the word to advance on the Republican stronghclds. ■v Filially the 'word came, and the invasion was begun because the South American contributors had grown impatient aud threatened to cut off their golden conations, unless 1 something was done -quickly. At first tho invaders seemed to be very successful, and rumours of a general uprising of Monarchist sympathisers in the north were gaining considerable credence. 4 Miguelist Pretensions.

Then, all at once, came the startling news that- Couceiro and his army had retreated across the' border, onoo more to await some mysterious development. What had happened only Couceiro knew, and ho was silent. About the same time a rumour' was spread broadcast that Prince Francis Joseph do Braganza, son of the Pretender, was serving on Coucciro’s staff, together with a mysterious person with a “sovereign air,” whom many claimed to have recognised ns Bom Miguel himself. Another officer answering to the description of the latter’s son Prince Miguel was also seen in the Royalist camp. This news fell like a bombshell in King Manuel’s retreat at Rjehmoud, and a hurried inquiry was commenced. Juost of the young King’s supporters in London profess to believe that the Braganzas are loyal to King Manuel’s cause, and that their possible presence with Coucciro’s army boded no ill results. One Royalist, however, was somewhat more pessimistic

“It looks as if Conceiro was running short of funds,” said ho to one of onr representatives. “It so ho is probably waiting for another remittance from Brazil. ,Should this fail to come there is nothing to prevent him looking elsewhere. Conceiro was originally a Kepublican, and .only changed front when tho new Government changed the flag. He had fought too long under the old blue and white banner; of Portugal, he declared, ever to give I-is allegiance to another, lie immediately joined tho Royalists in Spain, and, being a strong man, bo soon became their recognised leader. He naturally adopted King Manuel's cause, since he represented the old flag, and there was no other claimant to the throne just then who had the neccssarjmoney or seemed likely to ‘win. Apart fro mthis Conceiro is not specially committed to any candidate. If he lias the money he will probably win, and ho will then be strong enough to dictate who shall wear tho crown.

Sinews of War. "Tho uncertain element of the present situation is the simple, sordid question of money, for wars cannot be fought or won without it. If King Manuel’s Brazilian supporters cense to supply any more Conceiro may turn to Dom Miguel, whose eldest son not long ago married Miss

Anita Stewart, the heiress of many millions. Her step-father, Mr John Henry Smith —known to his social compatriots as “Silent" Smith—left an estate of over <£30,000,000. His widow. Miss Stweart's mother, inherited the bulk of this enormous fortune, and she did not hesitate to bestow a generous dowry on her daughter when she married a son of the Pretender to the Throne of Portugal, at a time when his chances of attaining it wore infinitely smaller than now. To give Miss Stewart the necessary royal status in this marriage the Hmperor, of Austria was influenced to create her the Duchess di Viren in her own r ight. : “It is true that on the .occasion of his marriage Prince Miguel renounced his right of succession, but this renunciation can he revoked, aud, given lavish contributions of American dollars, tho campaign would bo reinvigorated in favour of the JUguelists and to the detriment of King Manuel's prospects."