Freedom in Portugal
Stn,—In July a new President of Portugal was elected. All who care for liberty will be interested in a few facts about this election and the general politic-Al situation in Portugal. But, since it is the fashion for thepresent PortugueseGovernment to label all its opponents Communists, Atheists or Jacobins, perhaps I ought to say at the outset that I am a Conservative and my Church is the Church of England.
Effective power in Portugal undoubtedly lies in the hands of one man, Salazar, who is backed by the only political group allowed to function, the Unido National (National Union). Salazar is an extremely cunning politician, and a past master in the art of making generous verbal concessions to his opponents which are never carried into effect. Before the Presidential election, therefore, he promised, to use his own words, "maximum liberty of propaganda " to the Opposition candidate, Admiral Quintao Meireles. As usual, such an assurance proved quite illusory.
I am fortunate enough to have in my possession a copy of the Admires election manifesto. This manifesto acknowledges Salazar's material achievements, but rightly emphasises that these in no way compensate for the loss of individual liberty. The document repudiates in the most explicit terms both Communism and Fascism, affirms the Opposition's desire to strengthen the Anglo-Portuguese alliance and to associate itself wholeheartedly with the Atlantic Pact and Western defence.
What happened during the pre-election period ? While every, facility for public meetings and for propaganda by radio and in the Press was readily available for the National Union, the supporters of Admiral Quintao Meireles had the greatest difficulty in obtaining a hall for public meetings anywhere—all Government buildings and schools being closed to them, but not to the National Union, and private proprietors inevitably fearing reprisals if they hired out their buildings to the Opposition. The State broadcasting officials refused permission for Opposition speakers to present their case over the wireless. Care was taken that the Opposition should have no access to any large and reliable supply of paper. The censorship saw to it that no full presentation of the Opposition's case appeared in the daily Press.
In short, no free election for the Presidency was held in Portugal this year, just as no free election, presidential or general, has been held there since 1926: And, in view of the outrageous restrictions imposed' by the ruling clique on the free exprission of tte-Opposition's case. Admiral Quintao Meireles withdrew his candidature, refusing to participate in what he rightly called a fraudulent election. It is surely our 'duty to regard the .present Portuguese dictatorship with some coolness and to give what publicity we can, as individuals at least, to the efforts of millions of Portuguese at home and in the colonies to achieve those elementary political rights which are enjoyed by all of us in the other Atlantic Pact countries. I regret that I have to ask you to' publish this letter anonymously, As I hope to be in Portugal again shortly, I do not wish the Portuguese authorities to have the pleasure of prohibiting my return.
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