DON DUARTE UNLIKELY TO RETURN TO PORTUGAL

Wanganui Chronicle, 12 June 1950, Page 2

DON DUARTE UNLIKELY TO RETURN TO PORTUGAL

(From LUIS TEIVES, Reuter Correspondent in Lisbon). Don Duarte Nuno De Braganza, pretender to the Portuguese throne, who was born in exile in Austria and now lives near Gunten in Switzerland, is unlikely to return to Portugal to live in the near future. Although, under a law, recently approved by the National Assembly, he may now reside in the country, he apparently has no immediate intention of joining those other Kings without kingdoms who have found refuge in Portugal in recent years. Living in pleasant homes on the Portuguese coast at present are exking Umberto of Italy, ex-king Carol of Rumania, and two pretenders, Don Juan of Spain and Henri D’Orleans, Comte De Paris While Don Duarte is now free to return to Portugal whenever he likes it is recalled here that as recently as last October, Dr. Oliveira Salazar, the Portuguese Prime Minister, declared: “I personally would consider it inadvisable, in the interests of internal tranquility, for Don Duarte to reside permanently in Portugal. His own conscience and judgment would also no doubt lead him, too, to this conclusion.” But the repeal of the law against the return of the pretender to Portugal has given considerable encouragement to the monarchists. One well-known monarchist writer and member of parliament, Viscount Dr. Jaoa Ameal, commented: “I believe that the monarch is likely to be restored in Portugal soon, although I cannot forecast exactly when. The Portuguese monarchists believe that a restoration would be the best guarantee of maintaining the ‘order established by the present regime under Dr. Salazar.” The general impression in Portugal, however, is that there will not be an early restoration. Most monarchists here support the present regime and they have considerable representation inside the Uniao Nacional, the Government party, and in the National Assembly. They have their own association entitled “Cause • Monarquica,” with headquarters in Lisbon where they meet and from which they issue circulars from time to time. In this respect, they enjoy greater freedom than the republican opposition who have to have a special permit to enable them to hold meetings and whose pamphlets are regarded as subversive. While the monarchists have always supported Dr Salazar, some of the republicans have announced their aim as “to overthrow the present regime.” The main hope of the monarchists lies at present in the possibility that some change may become necessary in 1956 when the President of the Republic Marshal Carmona, now eighty years of age, will have to be re-elected. It is generally considered that, it would be asking too much of him, to expect him to continue in oifice at 86 years of age, and this might be an opportune moment for the momarchy to be restored in Portugal, with Dr. Salazar still as Prime Minister. Most people here, however, think that if conditions are essentially the same in 1956 as at present, the most likely course will be for Dr. Salazar to step into the Presidency if Marshal Carmona does not feel equal to continuing. Another Prime Minister would then be appointed and the continuity of the regime would be ensured for some time, without making any constitutional changes which might create internal conflicts. The recent bill repealing the laws of 1834 and 1910 which forbade members of the Portuguese Royal Family to reside in Portugal was presented to parliament by a republic, Major Jorge Botelho Moniz who is well known for his devotion to the regime and who helped to defeat several military insurrections against the government in the early days. A second part to the bill proposed a fell amnesty for political offences “committed .by persons who deserved well of their country." The Corporative Chamber (Portugal’s Upper House) accepted the measure but recommended certain modifications in the amnesty. Important changes in the Portuguese constitution this year are expected to substitute a system of election by direct suffrage for the pre-