Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-25

alliance with the central empires. This
obliaus reasoning, indeed, explains ,ns,i how
to liberalism regard the triumph of
Portuguese radicalism with ill-con-
cealed satisfaction. The advent to
power of advanced parties opens the
door to disorders which In the future
would become the pretext of an inter
vention of the royal government at
Madrid OF of the central empires at
Berlin and Vienna.
This. In brief. Is Iberianism as under
stood on the Spanish side. Naturally it
is asked. What of
What of The Iberianism in the Por-
tuguese state? Frank
1oF'usuese! ~, there is no Iberian
movement in Portugal. An incident
prior to this war may be cited as sig
nificant. 1t was in November. 1906.
an excited meeting Of the Portuguese
chamber terminated by the expulsion
Of some republican deputies: Follow
ing that incident the Spanish republi-
cans addressed to the expelled an ex-
preston of their sympathy. NJ. Lerroux
the TdOlCaI deputy Oh bafCelOnd, nAu
risked on that occasion an allusion to
the confederation Of the peoples of the
peninsula. The Portuguese chamber
fastened to reply to that manifestation
by unanimous vote, "reproving the
intrusion OF strangers in the interior
policy of the country and protesting
against the idea Of Iberian unity"
The Lisbon press treats Iberianism
as "utopianism." and that ut sins by it's
definition and its circumstantial sub
n M n
trinal utopia, without practical value
nor concrete application. 1t inspires
with some a sort of sentimental imper-
ialism. in which survives the ancient
union of the peninsula under the hege-
mony of CASTELAR," 1t exists with others
as a geographical nationalism, by vir-
tue of which all spaniards see with
alarm their frontier on the map. cut by
the great fiuvial ways. inquietude thus
of an economical character. AS for the
fusion on the federalist theory. that
exists little in the proverbial susceptt-
bilities of the populations-Spanisrd
on the one side. Portuguese on the
other.
Finally the dominating vice of union
list theories is the idea Of being uni
r1mparcia1 recently, may reappear not
| as an old ideal which might grow again.
but as an ancient rancor that exasper-
ates"
III oTueT 10 extract some real ROO0
from Iberianism. according to a Por-
tuguese writer. it is necessary to re-
duce 1t to modest proportions. a prac-
teal ambition. Under its actual form at
tends to divide two peoples rather than
unity them. Reduced to a moral and
economical factor il can serve the com.
| mon interests of the peninsula"
Leaving aside all conception of de-
| Matchmaking Portugal. it is necessary
to consider the ameliora-
| Commercial ton Of sentimental re-
p lations between Span
neia'lVhs' iards and Portuguese by
commercial and customs treaty. For
| this public opinion should be prepared
on each side of the frontier by lectures
prepared and sanctioned by the inter-
ested governments. 1t is thus the most
important and salutary results may be
obtained and Immediately a rapproche-
| ment realized.
| In a speech delivered at the Academy
| of Jurisprudence of Madrid in February.
1916, a diplomat of marked distinction.
NJ Gonzalez Hontoria, observed with
| finesse the instructive hostility OF the
Portuguese:
| "If we propose to our neighbors some
|
der which does not include anything
| else other than the proposition itself.
| it is certain to be suspected on the
other side Of the frontier. and IN default
Of better argument 1T will be met by
| that of. o periEo Hespanhol"
/ The lesson. it may be added. may be
taken to heart by others than the sem
sitive Portuguese. Have not the
Americans. for example. been too long
under the dread of what was known as
( the yellow Defip1
| That the idea OF Iberianism is taking
| root is apparent in the speech of a
Spanish member of the right. who.
speaking of the relations between
i Friendship with Portugal is perhaps
the most important of our foreign
problems
And for a fact, until that problem is
solved incidents will arise to paralyze
all economical initiative. 1t should be
| recalled that when IL was a question
| of constructing railroad along the
Portuguese frontier it was found nee
essary to call upon NJ. Vasconcellos to
calm the disauiet of his compatriots.
The secret of the separation of the Span
| ish and Portuguese may be found in the
| reciprocal and dense ignorance of each
Spanish authors - excepting Blasco
1banez-are rarely seen in the book
| shops. At Madrid the daily journals
still repeat the doubtful fscetious ex-
| ~ tHt teTT1Dlc HOTtu-
guese fleet" For such writer's the cen
sorship. if it did not exist. should be
| invented.
The union of Spain and Portugal by
| a treaty of commerce has been at
tempted. but has al
Trade Union ways been defeated by
p., obstacles which have
PROJECTED. been recited Thi.
| union is actually projected by such po-
| litical experts as NJ. NJ. Sanchez de
Toea. Azcarate. Labra. Ortuno and Lo-
peg Navarro. The announcement of
| the belligerent states that they would
! carry the war into the domain of eco
| nomics has had spontaneous echo
among all nations. Economists with
alike are busy in plans that interest
Spanish. Spanish American and Portu-
guese peoples. NJ. Montero-Rios has
already submitted to the Spanish senate
the program of the new democratic
party which asks for a union of inter.
ests Observation-Disclosures.
Special missions have been sent to
Portugal These commercial mani
festations will contribute, il is hoped
to dtssipate certain hostilities. Spain
and Portugal" says NJ. Gonzales Hon.
torfa, should live as brother and sis-
ter. having interests which do not con-
found. Each one should live at home
and care for her children Our Children