Evening star., 1960-08-28
BY EDMUND GRESS
Contributing Writer

Contributing writer
ESTORIL, Portugal. - This
strikingly gay resort Of white sand.
green sea and blue sky, not to
overlook the great gambling casino
and the glittering hotels, seeming
ly has never appeared more fas-
cinating. There are more luxury
cars, more wealthy travellers, more
playboys and more sun-worshipers
this summer than ever before.
Really" chided an unhappy
dowager as she looked out from
under her blue-and-white beach
parasol, "even royalty can't be
exclusive any more"
This lament Notwithstanding
exiled royalty lives and plays in
abundance here. frolicking in the
year-round swirl of carnivals that
have become a hallmark of this
playground of kings" There are
Italy's ex-King Humberto and Ru-
mania's ex-Princess Elena and
the Count OF Paris. They are con-
fronted with q common problem:
their lives-and ambitions-are in
the past.
But this appraisal, in the view
Of intimates who know him best.
cannot be said Of Don Juan of
Bourbon, the Spanish pretender
to the throne, who lives in an un-
pretentiouS villa high above the
waters of Estoril He decided to
live here. in self-imposed exile,
shortly after the end of World
War II.
The Pretender on Democracy
Now a vigorous Al, he talks
freely, but somewhat vaguely, Of
the kind of Spain he will forge if
circumstances should permit hin
to become the Spanish monarch.
Spain. if it is to survive in the Or
der Of the new Europe, must enjoy
the blessings of full democracy, he
insists. AS if to underscore his
faith in such precepts as civil and
personal liberties, Don Juan speaks
fondly of the British monarchy,
emphasizing that such structure
"a king above political parties
and deals-could unite all Spain.
And it is to such task and idea
that he is dedicating the rest of
his life. he maintains.
Don Juan is acutely aware Of the
inroads of time. He has come to
understand patience like few
other men, or would-be heads Of
state. Until March Of this year.
he waited in vain for word from
Franco that the Bourbon dynasty
would be returned to lead Spain.
But in their conference. Generals
simo Franco assured Don Juan that
some day the pretender would in
fact become King. And Franco
further assured Don Juan that
he had no intention of naming
Prince Carlos, Juan's handsome,
likeable 23-year-old son, as heir
to the throne while the Caudillo
continued to manipulate the reins
of government.
That was in March. That was
a time when Monarchist factions
within the country, of all political
shades and social strata, were de-
lighting in the first fruits of tri-
umph. There were rumors. moth
ing more as it turned out, that
Franco would step down by this
summer and call for Juan.
This Monarchist opposi ton.
loose. disjointed. inarticulate but
potentially powerful, showed clear
signs of rallying and. in turn, OF
stirring politically lifeless people
But time, Frances invisible ally
proved again to be torpedoin9
monarchist ambitions. For nothing
has happened since the fateful
meeting to offer even the slightest
glimmer of hope to the Mon
archlsts that the generalissimo i;
tired of running his difficult coun-
try.
MonoNhists Still Waiting
The Monarchist groups and con-
stituents have gone back to theil
normal routine. still waiting, still
hoping. still planning. still meet.
ing illegally and, in some instan.
ces, still publishing clandestint
pamphlets decrying the police
state tactics of the government. II
spite of the twist that the people
of Spain in 1947 voted overwhelm
ingly in a special referendum fo
the return of monarchy. govern
ment police insure that mon
archists do not get overly am
bilious about scheming for tn,
premature derailment of the re
gime.
Not that the Monarchists seen
likely to be united force. Fo
their current opposition. like al
octopus, fans out in many direc
tions. But here the parallel end
for, unlike the octopus. the Mon
archists have yet to catch thei
target-Franco-off guard.