The Washington herald., 1907-06-09


United States. might view with perfect
Indifference the crisis now raging at
Lisbon But England is bound by a
treaty, concluded in 1898, not merely to
protect Portugal from foreign invasion,
but likewise 10 safeguard the throne
from any danger resulting from an in
ternal revolution. The treaty in ques-
ton takes the place Of an earlier one OF
the same kind under the terms of which
English soldiers were dispatched to Lis
bon In 1926 IN response 20 appeals for as
sistance from the Portuguese govern
ment, which found itself poweriess to
suppress insurrectionary disturbances'
while eight years later the English fleet,
under the command Of Admiral Napier,
captured the naval forces of the Legiu-
mist usurper, King Miguel, of Cape st.
Vincent. and thus restored the power OF
Queen Maria Della Gloria. Times have
changed since then, and it is a question
whether any armed intervention to-day
in Portugal by Great Britain would not
entail complications Of a far-reachlng
nature with other great powers.
Yet the arrival of the British fleet in
the Tagus. and the dispatch Of British
troops 10 Portugal, may become neces-
sary at any moment. in order TO preserve
King Carlos from the loss Of his crown.
For the situation. according to the cable
dispatches from Europe. is more grave
than al any time since his accession to
the throne, eighteen years ago. In def
ance Of the terms Of the constitution. he
has, after dissolving the Cortes, declined
10 take any steps for the summOning OF a
new legislature by ordering a general
election, and has given it TO be under
stood, through his prime minister Dom
Joao Franco. that he proposes TO carry
on the government for some time to come
by royal decree. that is to say, as an
absolute ruler. He is imposing taxes and
collecting revenue without parliamentary
sanction, and he is carrying on things
with such a high hand. that the Legitl-
mists. who comprise the territorial aris-
t0cracy. the religious orders. and the Hit
crate peasantry entirely subservient 10
the clergy, have sent 20 Austria for their
pretender Dom Miguel Duke of Bra
brace the working classes in the cities,
the liberal professions, such as the law
yers. the doctors. the professors, &C, as
we'll as the university students. are out
in force. ciamoring for the immediate
proclamation Of a form Of government
such as that which has brought such
prosperity 70 the United States Mean
while. the navy and the army are motor
iously dissfected as far as the crown is
concerned. There have been frequent
mutinies Of late. indicating the disloyalty
Of the troops. and especially Of the sail
ors. and in spite Of the steps taken by
King Carlos 10 increase their pay, they
turn a deaf ear to his Establishments.
and are apparently firmly convinced that
there is no hope for their country as long
as its destinies remain in the hands Of
the present dynasty. In one word. Kine
Carlos. who before his dissolution of the
chambers was denounced by some Of lis
members during the course of the debates
as a coward as n thief of public
funds as a criminal" as "meriting ex-
pulsion.' and as Far more deserving OF
the loss Of his head than Louis XVI OF
France is literally without any friends
or partisans. save among his cOurtiers
and has even forfeited the good will of
those few Portuguese who were acCus-
toned to look upon him as the mOst
Cbedient Of all monarChs TO the obliga.
tions Of constitutional sovereign.
England cannot afford 10 leave POrtuga
10 her own devices. Aside from her treaty
obligations toward that country. she can
not permit the existence of anarchy, ol
Of any species Of regime other than tn,
existing government calculated 10 IN
volve the kingdom in difficulties witt
other nations. For her difficulties. arts
ing. say for instance. through the damag,
by the mob done to German property al
Lisbon or Oporto. might result in reprl
sails in the shape Of the seizure by tn,
Kaiser Of one or another Of those numer
Gus Portuguese islands and dependencies
scattered in various parts Of the world
which. aside from all other COnsidera
tions, would prove invaluable as coainl
stations. Great Britains naval supremacy
to-day is based not so much upon IN,
superiority In the number Of her ships
but on her virtual monopoly Of thos
coaling stations which are indispensable
IN the event Of naval warfare. Were Ger
many 20 secure any one Of these col0nia
dependencies Of Portugal as. for instance
the Azores. the Cape Verde archipelago
Madeira. Delagoa Bay, or Macao the bal
ance Of naval power would be most Sc
riousy affected from an English point o
view. In one word. England cannot tol
crate any condition of affairs az Iisbo,
such as would expose her TO the peril %
any of Portugals colonial dependencie
falling into the hands of Germany. eithe
a frr.u -t--
isfacton for damage 10 Teuton life an,
property in Portugal
The treaties establishing the allanc
between Great Britain and Portugal, an,
which constitute something very mucl
akin 10 an English protectorate over tn
realm ~ King Carlos. are eight in mum
ber. some Of them dating back 20 the be
ginning Of the eighteenth century. On
Of the best known is that negotiated fl
1903 by Right Hon. Sir John Methuor
ancestor Of Gen. Lord Methuen. But on
upon which both Dom Carlos and Kin
Edward place their chief reliance IS tha
supplementing and confirming all IN
previous ones, which was negotiatet
and signed by the late Sir Rober
0Iorier I'm 1873 at Lisbon Il did no
receive at the time the ratification
Of the Portuguese Cortez. and wher
year afterward. the Lisbon governmen
secured the legislative majority neces
sary TO pass il, the British cabinet o
the day. which was a Liberal administra
ton, turned a deaf ear 10 Sir Robert
ontreaties and gave him 20 understan
that it was not worth bothering any NOR
about the matter. Fortunately, LOr
Salisbury repaired this neglect. carrie
out the project Of Sir Robert Morier an
completed the instrument i'm 1S9S Its pro
visions comprise an undertaking on tn
part Of England to safeguard the thrOn
from attacks not only from without, bu
also from within. and 20 protect the king