• THE ROYALIST PRISONERS IN PORTUGAL.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR...]
Sin,—Last February the Premier, Senhor Affonso Costa, declared that in a month, when all the trials pending before the courts-martial were over, he would propose a (limited) amnesty for the political prisoners. Six weeks have now passed, the courts-martial both here and in the north are as active as ever, and the hope of an amnesty, far from coming
nearer, has receded. That this is so the words in a leading article of the Premier's organ, 0 Mundo (April 1st, 1913)
make sufficiently clear :—
"This [talk of an amnesty] is a spent rocket (lebre eon-ida). No Government in Portugal would dare to concede an amnesty before the conspirators prove that they have ceased to conspire. It is possible that there are some conspirators who, perhaps, repent of having allowed themselves to be led astray by the ringleaders ; but to these in due time the Government of the day will be able to grant an amnesty should it consider that it may do so without loss of dignity to the regime or danger to public order."
Yet for now nearly a year no hand has been raised against the Republic. It has, indeed, been curious to observe that intoler- ance and persecution have increased as the country has grown quieter. Even the most resolute opponents of an amnesty do
not contest its humanity or justice. It appears, then, that fear is the reason for the Government's refusal to release these
prisoners, despite the wishes of the Portuguese nation and the wishes of the moderate Republicans; and fear so great that the authorities imprison even the weak and old, e.g., Dona Julia de Brito e Cunha or Senhor Sabino Jose da Costa, an old man of over sixty, who, after seven months' imprison- ment, died in the Limaeiro last week without knowing on what charge (beyond the vague and familiar accusation of con- spiracy) he had been arrested. Persons have even been arrested recently "for speaking against the Republic and against the Goveriament." It only remains to be arrested for thinking against the Republic. But, indeed, this has already occurred, and many of those actually in the cells of the Penitenciaria are there for thinking monarchically and for no other reason. It is only a few very ignorant and very foolish persons who consider this an
adequate reason for their imprisonment. It is only the very foolish and very ignorant, again, who could be guilty, as in the arrest of Dona Constance Telles da Game, of trampling underfoot chivalry and the glorious traditions of Portugal's past. Unhappily the reputation of Portugal has to suffer for the actions of this minority. The motive for the odious and malicious arrest and eight months' imprisonment of Dona Constance was that her acts of charity (permitted by the authorities) were confined to the political prisoners—did not not extend to the criminals in the same prisons. The wit- nesses for the prosecution had no accusations to make at her trial ; but hers is no exceptional case in this respect. Hundreds of witnesses for the prosecution have passed before the Lisbon court-martial, spinning out the trials by statements so absurd that I regret, for laughter's sake, that they are too lengthy to quote. Surely the Republic cannot be blind to the odium and ridicule it incurs by these trials, at which no proofs are pro.. duced, and which are almost equally discreditable whether the verdict be an acquittal or condemnation, owing to the long
terms of imprisonment undergone by the accused before their trial. It seems almost incredible that the Lisbon court- martial should intend to try Dona Julia Mita e Cunha and others still in prison and to go solemnly through the same farce as that enacted yesterday in the trial of Dona Constance Telles da Gams. But these are details : the main point of my letter is that if the Republican authorities are afraid of granting an amnesty, as 0 Mundo definitely affirms, the Lisbon press must cease to speak of the Republic and the nation as being identical, and the Government must not be surprised if little confidence is felt in a regime which feels no confidence in itself, and if rumours are spread abroad that it is weak and tottering. On the other hand, according to many Republicans, this talk of not daring to grant an amnesty is sheer hypocrisy, and these Republicans believe that the granting of an amnesty would be the beginning of a new era of peace in Portugal. A Republica (April 2nd, 1913) says that without an amnesty "it is impossible to reduce the political life of the nation to a normal state, it is impossible to enter upon the period of definite quiet which is essential for any useful labour. . . . We shall more easily disarm our enemies by good administration and good government, by tolerant and considerate actions, than by intimidation and violence, arrests and outrages." Certainly the course which the Republic is at present steering must delight its worst enemies. But, while it is heading straight for the rocks, there is still time to alter the course should a lull occur in the bitter Jacobin wind now blowing. It is entirely to the advantage of the Republic that the persecutions of the last thirty months should be forgotten in a new period of tranquillity. Should the Portuguese Government, before another month elapses, grant an amnesty embracing all the prisoners (for one cannot accept distinctions in releasing when none have been made in arresting and condemning) it will avoid the further discredit to the Republic involved by the trial of innocent persons after many months of wrongful imprisonment, it will give the lie to those who assert that the Republic feels as insecure to-day as it did two years ago, and, while inspiring confidence in the Republic, it will by its action win unqualified and unanimous applause throughout the civilized world.—I am, Sir, &O., AUBREY F. G. BELL. Lisbon : April 2nd, 1913.
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