THE CHINA MATTSTE
STABILITY IN PORTUGAL
Lisbon
rresponden the imes, reviews, the wonderful improvement which has taken place in Portugal during the last decade. At the same time he endeavours to show that Portugal's attitude to the war in Spain is due pure- ly to her dread of Communism, and does not imply any weak- ening of her alliance Great Britain.
with
(From a Lisbon Correspondent)
ETWEEN 1910, when the
Bonarchy ended, and 1926,
when the army marched from Braga to disposses the politicians in the capital, Portugal suffered 18 revolutions and some 40-odd Governments Finances were at their worst, bankruptcy stared her in the face. Political heaval and revolutionary turmoil Covered the land, and the coun try fell into apathetic despair.
Things are very different now Revolutions are out of fashion. A country which except for the tears 1913 and 1914 had not balanced its budget since 1854. has, since Dr. Salazar took over the portfolio of finance in 1928 (and later the Premiership) en- joyed an unbroken series of sur- pluses.
MANY REFORMS
economic and social reform much has been achieved. Legis- lation protects the worker no less than the employer. A minimum wage has been introduced into one main industry and is to be extended to others and to agri- culture Astonishing improve ments in public services have materialised.
A country which only a few years ago was almost inacces- sible except by mule or ox cart now possesses a network of good motor roads, maintained and yearly increasing. General im- provement in rail, telegraphic, telephonic communications,
been mod rearming.
houston and has
A programme of reconstruc. tion, now in its second year, pro- vides for an expenditure of $60,000,000 over a period of 15 years.
Much still remains to be done. Taration, chiefly indirect, is heavy, the cost of living tends to rise; poverty exists. Time is re- quired for returns from nation- building projects to accrue and for improvement to reach all strata of society. Patience is necessary in Portugal, and above all peace within her own borders.
THE IRRECONCILABLES
What are the chances of such peace? Opposition there un- doubtedly is. No State that is not a Utopia can escape it. The treason in two units of the Navy last September, the bombs in Ministries and public buildings in January and the attempt on the life of Dr. Salazar on July 4 give proof to the presence of sub- versive elements, though the significance of such incidents is of less import than the enemies of Portugal would have it be lieved
Such opposition as exists is ob- viously diffused, unorganised and unco-ordinated. Some dis- gruntled members of the intelli gentsia, a few demagogic stu- dents, underground elements im- bued with Communistic doctrines
these are perhaps the irrecon- cilables.
They are given little scope. Secret police, vigilant and ubiqui tous,
act rapidly and sternly. Critical comment is scotched, Colonial penal settlements may be distant in miles but are on the immediate horizon for offenders. The enemies of the new State are the enemies of the nation. The new State repudiates the idez of authority without liberty
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS-
In the sphere of foreign affairs the tasks of Portugal has been dificult and delicate.
"Some people do not believe in the peril of Communism.” Salaxar said quite recently, “vẽ, on the other hand, feel it, and fear that Communism, the connivance of other countries, may take root in Spain..
"Hence our uncompromising at-- titude from the very start, hence our opposition to any form of non-intervention which should prejudice unfavourably Spanish Nationalism, which stands be- tween Portugal and Iberian Com- munism”
That her sympathies should coincide with those of Italy and › Germany on this question was fortuitous: they are scarcely born of identical motives.
NAVAL CONTROL
On the withdrawal of Ger- mány and Italy from the naval control scheme Portugal suspend- ed-facilities granted to British observers, imported at her ins vitation, on her land frontier.
The withdrawal of Germany and Italy, she stated, broke the equilibrium of sea control in a manner unfavourable to General Franco. If equilibrium were re- established she would reconsider the suspension.
Again her sympathies, related. as they appeared to be with those of Italy and Germany, gave added force to those voicing their be lief in her divergence from the British alliance.
Such belief is fallacious. It has been publicly refuted by Dr.? Salazar on more than one occa- sion, and such refutation (un- doubtedly coincides with the sen- timents of his audiences and the vast majority of the people of Portugal
FREE ENTITY
This is not to say that the
Alliance is the whole of Portu
gal's foreign policy. A rejuven- ated Portugal maintains her partnership as a free and inde- pendent entity, ready primarily to defend her own interests before expecting her friend to do
BO.
The Alliance stands as it has stood for over five centuries. It is of mutual benefit. So long as Britain exists as the centre of an Empire with sea communications flanked by Portugal and her pos sessions, so long as Portugal exists with a land frontier open to a powerful neighbour and seaboard-open? preponderant
sea power, it will remain mutual beneit
In a repacious, -expansionist world Portugal, mindful
colonial empire
large
COV usness draws cond
the strength of her ancient and friend.
THE
BRUSH UP YOUR WITS
Wickets
cricket team has two bowlers, Smith and Jones. Before their last match their averages were the same, and they have taken 30 wickets between them. In the last match Smith takes three for
24 and Jones two for 26. Their averages for the season are now worked out and are found in each case to be 4.
What are their respective figures for the season ?
Dangerous Ages
When I asked my old friend. Watta Mistery, her age she said:
"My dear Habert, I know what you like is a puzzle. · So here you
are.
"In six years time my father's age will be three times what mine was when my father's age equal to the sum of my age and my sister's. My age now is equal to what my father's age was then. My sister's age is double what her age was then. And in 19
years time my father's age will be double what my sister's age is now."
How old is Watta
Simple Addition
Here is an addition sum-
BALL
BAT
BOKO
If each letter represents a digit and if KO — five times BO what are the respective values of BALL and BAT?
Solutions to "Brush Up Your Wits"
Wickets
Smith: 25
for 60. Jones: 20 wickets for 80.
2 Dangerous Ages,
Watta is forty-seven.
Simple Addition
BAT
1433
COY
CE-KWAN BLDG. DESVCEUX PO C.
EDELIVERIE AVING DE
EXTRA
ARGE