MANUEL IN ENGLAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 51, 14 October 1911, Page 8

MANUEL IN ENGLAND.

PORTUGAL’S EX-KING CRITICISED. ' One of the sensations of the declining clays ol August was the seizure in quick succession of half a dozen small steamers in various ports of the United Kingdom, says a London correspondent under date September Ist. There is a good deal of mystery about the seizure of these ships, but it seems to be beyond doubt that the authorities primarily took action upon the representations of the Portuguese representative in London, and there can 1)0 no question that all the vessels seized wore' cither in process ol conversion from peaceful traders into miniature cruisers, or were being loaded with munitions of war-—4.7 guns, shells, .rifles, cartridges, and the like. 'The first seizure set afoot a story of a plot engineered at Richmond by wealthy American supporters of exKing Manuel, to replace that young man on the throne of Portugal. Now certain papers are taking considerable pains to try to prove that the vessels had been bought on behalf of some unnamed South American Republic. Hut many people refuse to he convinced by the plausible arguments against the Royalist plot theory, and hold firmly to the belief that, though the ships wore ostensibly destined for South America, they were in reality meant to be used in operalions designed to restore .Manuel to his throne. Consequently the exKing is coming in for a good deal of criticism, on the supposition that he, in plotting to recover his lost crown, is imperilling the good relations of the country whose hospitality lie is enjoying, with other Stales.

! >LOTT INC! f) EI’HECATE I). Everybody will agree that it is only natural for dethroned monarchs to plot to get their own back wherever they arc, but most English people ieol that if Manuel’s plots are iu the least likely to embroil us with a friendly State, or laud us into another ‘‘Alabama” affair, he should bo given notice to “drop it 'or quit.” For Manuel, it may lie said, the English people have little use. He has been writing letters to people abroad which convoy the impression that he thinks very little of tlio country which he lias chosen to make Lis domicile. Apparently ho is displeased with us because wo show no disposition to make much ol him, and are sublimely indifferent to his troubles. Bossibly if Manuel was a different kind of young man he might and Englishmen a little more .sympathetic. Some very peculiar stories arc told concerning the young man’s “goings on,” his extravagancies, and his debts to English tradespeople. MOURNFUL CREDITORS. J.t was publicly stated recently that when the Portuguese royal family left thoir country they left debts to the tune of over a million and a halt sterling,' and that the Portuguese Government could find royal assets to- meet them to the extent of about 50 per cent oniy.j A . Manuel, it is understood, is allowed £6OO per month by the Republic, ibis is not ,perhaps, a kingly allowance, but it should render it unnecessary for the exile to pile up debts which he cannot possibly pay at the expense of the traders of Old England.