Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-16
TURMOIL IN PORTUGAL
STRONG EFFORT MADE TO GUST
PREMIER FRANCO.

LISBON, December 16.-The situation in
Portugal is becoming increasingly difi-
cult. and it is almost impossible to obtain
exact information owing to the obstruc-
ton offered by the police and the govern
ment, rigorous censorship having been
imposed. Newspapers are suppressed and
kilograms held up. The opposition parties.
on learning that the crown will support
Senior Joao Franco. have lost all hope
of overthrowing him. They will now en-
ploy every weapon in combating the king
and the government.
This condition of affairs has brought
about state of violent agitation, and
the newspapers are employing language
so strong that the government has sus-
pended the publication of several journals.
including the Diario de Noticias, formal
do Concrete, Portugal Popular Vani-
guarda. Mundo, Epoca. Liberal Correio da
Note. Noticias da Lisboa. Novidades and
Lucia: Up to the. present only the Seculo
and the two organs of the government.
the Diario Ilustrado and the formal da
Noite. are being published without having
been denounced. The censorship forbids the
circulation of foreign newspapers which
publish any news against the government.
Hatred Of the King.
These suspensions are, to some extent
justified, because the press Is employing
the most abusive language, full of in
suits to the king. Senior Franco the
archbishop and the authorities. and.| in
addition to this. a good deal Of utterly
false news is being published. Neverthe-
less. 1t cannot be denied that q feeling
Of strong indignation against the king
is in existence, and many monarchist
politicians have passed over to the re-
publican party. while more still. disap-
proving the policy of Senior Franco and
the attitude of the king have retired into
private life. A profound sensation nas
been caused by the withdrawal to the re-
publican camp of the famous Jose da
Cunha, formerly the kings instructor, and
an ex-minlster. He has been joined also
by Anselmo Braancamp Freire, a peer
of the realm.
Moreover. Luciano de Castro. chief of
the progressist party has led a vigorous
the Correio da Note. which has been con-
demned to thirty days suspension for a
very violent article against his majesty
headed THE King Smiles"
After careful investigation and inquiry,
am able to state that the explosion
which occurred in the Carreira de Lisboa
was due to the criminal labors Of band
of terrorists. who. with political ends
In view. were preparing number of
dangerous bombs. The men engaged in
fabricating the bombs were four In num-
Der. Two of them were killed.
Plan Frances Downfall.
Directly connected with recent events is
the resignation of: the military governor
of Lisbon and various officers have been
transferred to other regiments. Such
state Of unrest prevails here that the
troops are all in barracks ready to march
into the streets on the least sign of the
outbreak of a riot However. very few
Of the military sympathize with the re-
pdblicans. nearly all the officers being
loyal friends of the king. The crown.
therefore. counts upon the support should
the occasion arise, O. practically the
whole of the army and navy. Some Of
fcers in whom but little confidence is re-
posed will be sent to the colonies. and a
similar step will be taken with the crews
of few vessels who are suspected of
friendship with the republicans.
The study of the situation in Portugal
is beset by many difficulties. Senior Joao
Franco and his friends say that the pro-
preston of the government subventions
to newspapers and politicians. They add
that the country has a government and
king. On the other hand, all the re-
naming parties. including the conserva-
tive and the progressist-which are mon
archist-accuse Joao Franco and the king
of exercising a tryannical and immoral
dictatorship. adding that the revolutionary
movement will cost the king his crown
if he does not dismiss Senior Franco and
people go so far as to say that the only
solution which they will admit as a
condition of their remaining monarchists
is the abdication of Don Carlos and the
crown prince. But even that would not
satisfy the republicans, who are carry
ing on campaign which is frankly rev.
dictionary. and are trying to attract the
army and navy. This movement meets
with scant sympathy in Portugal. where
all that is desired is the downfall of
Joao Franco as the first step toward a re-
turn to the parliamentary regime.
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal. Decemhar 10