Leftward in Portugal
The statement of Mr Ron Hayward, the General Secretary of the Labour Party, to the effect that a left-wing dictatorship in Portugal would be as undesirable as any Other dictatorship, is as welcome as it is unexpected. For too long the British Labour Party has been inclined to pick and choose between foreign governments on grounds of prejudice rather than logic; and Mr. Hayward's statement is at least some ilidication that common sense and the ritish national interest are beginning to influence Labour attitudes. Meanwhile, the situation in Portugal continues to deteriorate. Despite winning only 12 per cent of the votes cast in the National Assembly elections, the Communist Party enjoys enormous influence in that country, partly because of its closeness to some members of the Revolutionary Army Council and partly because of the ruthlessness and efficiency of its methods. The threat which a Communist influence poses to the interests of NATO, therefore, remains considerable; and Dr Soares is wise in recognising that his friendship for the Communists makes it extremely unlikely that General Goncalves should remain as Prime Minister. The EEC countries have been right to stress that there can be no accommodation between Portugal and themselves until the army clearly abandon the political ambitions increasingly dominant in the officer class. However, with the United States quiescent, there does not seem a great deal more for the Western alliance to do.
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