Renter telegrams from Lisbon dated Friday, the 21st inst., contained
a statement made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs at a meeting of foreign Press representatives on the subject of the payments to the Royal Family. He declared, in evidence of the "toleration and generosity" of the Govern- ment, that they were making monthly payments of 2444 8s. 10d. to Queen Maria Pia and 2666 13s. 3d. to King Manoel. A different construction is placed on the matter by a second statement issued in Tuesday's papers by Reuter's Agency. According to "the highest Portuguese authority," Queen Maria Pia's dowry was settled in an Act approved by the Portuguese and Italian Chambers prior to her marriage, and is "an inter- national : g eement binding on whatever Government may beta power in Lisbon." It is further stated that King Manoel has so far received no sums save those derived from the estates of the house of Braganza, his personal property, and that therefore there can be no question of any display of " toleration or generosity."
Previous page
