PORTUGAL AND THE ALLIES.
(To ras Enrroa or THE " SPECTATOR.")
Sia,—Portugal is unanimous in favour of the Allies and in favour of Senhor Sidonio Pass's Government. His extraordinary popu- larity is due to the fact that he released the people from the detested Oarbonario yoke. He stands for freedom and the right against injustice and oppression, for democracy against demagogy, for the nation against the professional politician. His opponents are a small band of desperate Carbonarioe and a few disappointed politicians. The latter have done their best to mislead the Spanish and French Press, arguing rightly that, in present circumstances, opposition to the new Portuguese Administration on the part of the Paris Press might paralyse public opinion in England. Nearly two months after the revolution of December a Reuter's message in the London Press was misconstrued into making the new Portuguese Premier say that a certain section of the nation was helping him "by causing dissensions in Portuguese social life." No one in Portugal would dream of making a remark of the kind. It is one out of a hundred such misstatements, circu- lated abroad, which would have caused considerable merriment here were they not so injurious to the Allies and to Portugal. It is precisely because Senhor Sidonio Paw represents discipline and moderation. and that all the acts of his Government have been directed not to divide but to reconcile Portuguese society, that there is not an honest• man in Portugal who does not support him. Even if a similar support on the part of the Allies entailed the withdrawal of every Portuguese soldier now fighting in France, it would still be the plain duty of the Allies to pronounce in favour of truth and justice in Portugal. Happily, the Allies are con- fronted by no such dilemma. The present situation in Portugal affords an exception to the Spanish proverb that honour and expediency- cannot fit into one sack. In supporting Portugal's new Republic public opinion in Great Britain and France will be supporting our Allies in the war and friendly traders afterwards. Were the unpopular Democrats to return to-morrow, Portugal would still be on the side of the Allies, but in the heart of the people the cause of the Allies would have received a. deathblow. These are.the clear facts of the situation, as known to every one in Portugal. It is, after all, the people which provides the soldiers, nor is trade conducted by a few officials, but between a nation and a nation; and the Portuguese people, for the first time for many years, is, as I have said, practically unanimous.—I am,
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