Evening star., 1950-11-19


has been part of a strong tend
ency to live in the past in which
Portugal was a powerful world
power. The presence of a we'll
scattered remnant of her outlying
possessions. making her still today
the possessor of the third largest
colonial empire, has been a con-
slant reminder of that glorious
history. Her two largest African
colonies, Angalo and Mozambique
contain more people than con-
tinental Portugal itself, 20 times
the area and past potential re-
sources. Portuguese Goa is small
but important in Asia.
DR.. Antonio Salazar, Premier
since 1882. has long hoped to be
able to put into operation a Is
year economic development pro-
gram. The Marshall Plan has
given Portugal a real opportunity
to start along this road and to
bring herself more in line econom-
ically with the rest of Western
Europe.
Need New Markets
During the first Marshall Plan
year, Portugal requested no dollar
aid. In the face of a drain on her
gold reserves, depleted by a heavy
import of capital goods, she re-
ceived some $30.5 million In dollar
exchange during the second ECA
year. Twenty-seven millions of
this amount is repayable under
the liberal ECA loan arrange
ments.
The purchase of equipment tc
replace the obsolete, and ma
chinery for the development OF
hydroelectric power have been the
primary needs. The new plants
on the Cavado and Zezere Rivers
nearing completion will help ire
mendously. The improved naviga-
bility of the Douro River is essen
tial to any plans for a bettered
economy.
The people know little about
such Marshal Plan aid that is
arriving in Portugal. Neither the
amount nor type of assistance re-
ceived to date could have beer
used as an theological weapon
against communism as other Eu-
ropean governments have done
The Portuguese do not have te
do this because they have nc
Communist Party. The Salazal
government has, in fact, felt that
Its long-Standing, open opposi-
ton to the Kremlin obviously
merited the support of a program
whose avowed purpose was to
back up the forces fighting COM
munism. Portugals 1949-50 re-
quest for $100 million dollars was
cut, however, to 30-odd millions.
Portuguese officials and busi-
nessmen are not hesitant In ad-
mitting the importance of find
ing new markets. Their once i'm
portant German market gone and
the British one tied up in ster-
ling balances, it is westward
across the ocean that Portugal
must look for the sale of her ex-
portable surpluses of wine, cork
and canned fish.
Leans on Farming
Portugal is an agricultural
country. She is trying to modern
ize the calling from which so pei
cent of the country obtains its
living. The government is max
ing great strides in copying the
United States agricultural exten-
sion services, whereby modern
methods and techniques and the
latest information may be passed
on to the farmers out in the
country. Government expert
mental stations play an impor-
tant role.
Labor unions as such do not
exist, and strikes are prohibited
There are associations of worker:
in the larger industries, but the
working people, for the most part
rely on the efficient functioning
of the guilds for improvement oi
their working conditions. These
are the employer associations
which together with the employe
groups, are represented in the
cooperative chamber of the Portu.
guese Parliament.
In certain industries guile
membership is compulsory. This
is true for Goldfish, one of the
staples of the Portuguese diet
The guild of Goldfish shipowners
are responsible for assuring fan
marketing conditions for the
owners. BY supporting them
against a bad catch or other ad-
verse conditions, the Government
requires these owners, in turn, to
safeguard the welfare of their
workingmen.
The African colonies figure
prominently in any balance sheet
of the Portuguese economy. The
further development of more thar
100000 square miles, rich in re.
sources and produce, coulC
brighten the picture considerably
Oil kernels. corn, sugar and Goa
await only to be exploited ano
exported. The ECA has curtailee
the importation of most ma.
chinery desired for the colonie.
on the ground that such does moi
contribute directly to European
recovery. There is an ambitious
program being undertaken ir
Angola to build a large refriger.
ated meat-packing plant and tt
enlarge the frozen-fish facilities
In this way the mother country
can obtain more and better meat
from the colonies at a price
considerably lower than is paic
by importing meat from Soutf
America. Point w offers greater
,oarcihi1;f;ae fa,. oo1oriol IovoIon