Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22
LISBON FEARS REVOLT
SITUATION IN PORTUGAL IS
DIFFICULT.
Special CabIegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram TO The Star.
LISBON, December q (via the frontier).
The demonstration of officers announced
for last Sunday did not take place. Senior
Joao Franco, fea ring that it might give
rise to disturbances, requested his friends
to refrain from their intended act of
sympathy. Thus the day passed off
quietly, and at the moment there is moth
ing of an abnormal character to be no
ticed, although spirits are undoubtedly
excited, and there is generally a feeling
of anxiety among the politicians of the
three monarchist parties-the conserva-
tive, progressist and liberal.
It is extremely difficult to foresee what
may happen. Calm apparently prevails,
but 1t has been produced solely by
the two royal DEGREES which Joao
Franco caused the king to sign. and
against which any protest is impossible.
One of these DEGREES absolutely prohibits
any political gathering under pain of the
dissolution of the club in which 1t is held
The other, under several penalties, pro-
hibits the press from commenting ON the
political situation Thus. with the right
Of public meeting suspended and the press
gagged, it is clear that protests cannot
take any external form, and for that rea-
son apparent tranquility reigns.
I Capital Still Gay.
IN Lisbon there would seem to be no
departure from the normal life Of the
capital people frequent the streets and
the theaters as though nothing was hap
pening. 1t is only the politicians who
concern themselves with the situation:
the masses and those classes who are re-
moved from the political sphere have
lost faith in all parties and take scant
notice Of the leaders.
In some circles Joao Franco has many
sympathizers. and impartial people say
that the dictatorship is necessary as
Portuguese politics had reached state of
anarchy and immortality to which 1t was
necessary to put an end. On the other
hand, the professional politicians have
nothing but the most deadly hatred for
the dictadura, and IL a revolutionary
movement is produced 1t will have been
provoked by them. But 1t will be very
difficult to enlist the aid of the people,
who are fearful. OF jumping from bad
situation into another a thousand times
worse.
Army Is Uncertain.
The real danger lies in the army and
navy, which have been actively cam
vassed by the revolutionaries. Senior
Franco processes to fear nothing, be-
cause the naval and military forces are
loyal to the king. but the chiefs of the
opposition are loud in their assertions
that both the army and the navy bitterly
dislike the dictator. Who is right cannot
be stated. positively but the govern
uient has some suspicion of the loyalty of
the land and sea forces. as Is proved by
the fact that various regiments have been
deprived of ammunition and nearly all the
vessels have been sent to a distance from
Portugal. Moreover, there are sundry Of
ficers in prison and many soldiers under
arrest. These facts show that the boosted
confidence Is by no means absolute, and
that revolutionary doctrines have pene-
trated the armed forces, If not to a very
great extent, at least sufficiently to cause
a certain amount OF alarm.