[To TIM EDITOR OF THR
SIR,—The Committee of the Howard Association will be obliged if you can kindly give publicity to the enclosed letter which has just been sent by the Association to Sir Edward
"The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, M.P., K.G., Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whitehall.
DEAR Sra,—The Committee of the Howard Association have lately held meetings at which the treatment of political prisoners in Portugal has been considered. From information placed before the Committee it appears that a very large number of such persons have been arrested, conveyed to various prisons, and detained for lengthened periods without being brought to trial.
The Committee are also informed that whilst undergoing detention the prisoners receive but little food, and that of the worst description, and, further, that the conditions under which the prisoners are detained are so bad, in a sanitary sense, that loss of health and even life may be expected. The Committee have not failed to observe that the Portuguese Government has announced a partial amnesty under strict limita- tions and restrictions to some two hundred and sixty-seven of those who have been imprisoned for political offences, but such a measure will only affect a very small proportion of the whole number who are detained on charges of political disaffeotion, and will not materially alter the present deplorable state of things.
The Committee realize the difficulties of the position, and certainly have no wish to press for an active or unseemly inter- ference in the affairs of a friendly nation, but they realize the very great influence that you, representing our nation, exert, so they respectfully and most earnestly ask you to impress upon the Portuguese Government : (1) The necessity and justice of promptly bringing untried prisoners to trial. (2) The duty of providing a reasonable amount of decent food for all prisoners. (3) The desirability of providing clean and healthy accommoda- tion. The Committee, believing that every country ought to grant these three things as a charter of right to all prisoners, ask your help in securing them for those detained in Portuguese prisons.—We are, yours respectfully,
HENST GITENSY,
43 Devonshire Chambers, Chairman of the Howard Association.
Secretary.
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