The Daily Chronicle of Thursday reports an interview between its
correspondent at Lisbon and Senhor Branco, the Foreign Minister. The situation is admittedly critical. Half the seats of the Members elected to the Cortes have been challenged, mostly by the Opposition bloc, and the remainder by the Government, on the ground of corruption, violence, and other illegalities, with the result that the Cortes has been adjourned by the Government for three months while the election petitions are tried. Meantime political intrigues are rife, and the supporters of the ex-Dictator, Senhor Franco, are confident of an early return to power. In spite of these difficulties, the Foreign Minister anticipates a triumph for the Government. If the Republicans, he said, attempted an armed revolt, the Government would not hesitate to crush it without mercy. The King was immensely popular throughout the country. The Army and Navy were absolutely faithful to the Monarchy, but " should they prove insufficient, the Government has other means at its disposal to cope with insurrection which it would not hesitate to employ."
