Evening star., 1949-02-20

~sSss~S
in the Azores which aided notably
in guarding the Atlantic lanes
against the German U-boat men
ace. Those leases have been con-
tinued under a sort Of gentleman's
agreement and form a major link
In the defense system Of this hem
isphere. A serious upset in Portu-
gal could alter the situation to our
disadvantage. So what happens
in Portugal Is distinctly our con-
cern.
Republic Declined
The drama began some months
ago, when an authoritarian gov
ernment which had been in power
twenty-five years permitted po-
litical opposition to form and
nominate a candidate for the
presidency. That, in itself, was a
distinct novelty.
To be sure. there was an expla-
nation for this leniency. Discon-
tent against the government has
been rising in Portugal for years,
and an electoral gesture might
serve as a useful safety valve.
The odds were still on the goy-
ernment candidate, while the
deposition was handicapped by
restrictive measures in its cam
paigning. Besides, leniency to op-
ponents is characteristic of the
national temper. Unlike their
fiery Spanish neighbors, the Por-
tuguese are an easy-going folk in
stinctively averse to extremes.
Only once in their long history
did they display a flash of dy-
manic energy which won for little
Portugal a vast colonial empire
rivaling that of Spain. stretching
as it did from the Far East to
Brazil in the New World.
That happened almost five CEN
turies ago. But soon, as though
overstrained by such prodigious
exertions, Portugal fell into a
deepening lethargy. Imperial
power and wealth departed, mis-
government sapped its domestic
prosperity, and the country be-
came poor and backward. In 1910,
an almost bloodless revolution ex-
PEELED the effete Braganza dy-
nasty. substituting a republic for
a monarchy. But the Portuguese
soon showed their ineptitude for
democratic self-government. The
Portuguese Republic quickly be-
came the prey Of rapacious dema-
gogues quarreling over the spoils
lof- Office. Within little more than
a decade. Portugal was anarchie
and virtually bankrupt.
In 1926. a group of patriotic
Army officers threw out the latest
gang of politicians with ridiculous
ease and set up a military regime
of their own. But they were wise
enough to know that soldiers
could not run the country by
themselves. And they were doubly
sure that their specialized mill
tary training untitled them to
clear up the appalling mess of
administrative ineficiency and
corruption. coupled with a de-
based currency and crippling
debts, that they had inherited. So
they looked around for some
civilian brains to help them do the
job. And they soon found one in
dividual whose outstanding repu-
tation and talents marked him as
best fitted to undertake the task.
Partnership Formed
He was a quiet, mouselike little
man named Antonio de Oliveira
Salazar. professor of economics In
Portugal's leading university.
When summoned to Lisbon by
the ruling Gen. Carmona and his
colleagues, he told them candidly
that he could set the nations
house in order if he were. given
an absolutely free hand to effect
the needed reforms. Otherwise,
he much preferred to stick to his
university career.
So profound was the impression
he made on his hearers that an
enduring partnership was formed.
Gen. Carmona was to be the Pres
ident, with all the pomp and pres
tige that went with the Office OF
chief executive. Prof. Salazar
wanted none of the limelight. He
Just took over the Ministry OF
Finance. Yet from that officially
inconspicuous, but actually vital,
vantage point he exerted a power
quickly felt through every depart
ment of the administration.
The results were amazing.
Within few years, Portugal had
reasonably efficient and honest
bureaucracy, a sound currency, a
balanced budget and a manage
able national debt. True, his
methods were autocratic and his
ideals authoritarian. DR.. Salazar
frankly did not believe that the
Portuguese people were ripe for
democratic self-government. He
therefore worked for efficient gov
ernment, ruin in the way he
thought best for them. And by
1888 he perfected his political pat
tern in the shape Of a new consti-
tuition which he significantly called
Estado Novo-"the New States"
This new state was frankly
authoritarian-which means, run
from the top down. Parliament
was a rubber stamp, chosen by
limited suffrage in elections"
managed by DR.. Salazar's own
party, the National Union. which
carried all the parliamentary seats.
Economy Brought Discomfort
Nevertheless. as time passed.
popular grievances did tend to &C
cumulate. Most Of this discomfort