ii2 4 PORTUGAL 



the barbarity with which suspects were treated that a Committee of prominent British 

 residents was formed to investigate and if possible to alleviate their condition. The 

 Reports of this Committee were published in the London Morning Post and Paris 

 Figaro in January and .March 1912, and the matter was vigorously taken up by th 

 Italian, Swiss, Austrian and Spanish Press. Several Portuguese Republican news- 

 papers and prominent Conservative Republicans corroborated the findings of the 

 British Committee, and diplomatic representations followed. But the influence of the 

 Carbonarios, and of the Radical Republicans led by Dr. Costa, prevented reform; the 

 proscription of alleged political conspirators continues and hundreds of innocent persons 

 remain imprisoned without trial and in circumstances of great hardship. 



Two of the political trials call for special mention. In the first, the accused was 

 Senhor Joao Franco, the former "Dictator." On December u, 1910 the Court of 

 Appeal unanimously decided in favour of the accused. The Government retaliated by 

 banishing five of the judges to Goa; but these were reinstated on June 6, 1911. In the 

 second trial under notice (June 1912), the accused was the Monarchist leader Captain 

 Paiva Couceiro, who was sentenced, in absentia, to six years solitary confinement and 

 ten years imprisonment in the first class. 



New Legislation. One of the first decrees of the Provisional Government (Nov. 4, 1910) 

 dealt with the subject of divorce. Among the grounds for divorce now legally admitted 

 are insanity, if pronounced incurable after three years; imprisonment for a long term; and 

 mutual consent. The latter is only .granted if both parties are over twenty-five and have 

 been married two years. The Provisional Government attempted to abolish gambling, 

 but this was afterwards legalised, and foreign capital was invited for the establishment of 

 casinos. A decree of the 2Qth of December made the Law of Offences against the Crown 

 applicable to offences against the Republic, and a new Press Law submitted Press offences 

 to trial by jury instead of by a single judge, as formerly. This reform was more apparent 

 than real, for in practice the liberty of the Press has been greatly curtailed under the Republic, 

 and every Monarchist or Clerical newspaper had either ceased to. express its opinions or 

 else ceased to exist by March 1911. Duelling was declared illegal in January of that year. 

 By a decree of the 3Oth of May Greenwich time was officially adopted, the decree taking effect 

 on January I, 1912 when all clocks were advanced thirty-seven minutes. On September 

 5, 1911 the Government adopted the Marconi system of wireless telegraphy. 



Finance and Commerce. The apparent stability of the Republic had a favourable effect 

 upon the national finances. An official note published on May 21, 1911 showed an increase 

 f 39.oo in revenue during the previous three months, despite reductions in the octroi 

 on foodstuffs. Credit seemed good, for on the 6th of June the 3% external loan stood 

 higher than at any time during the previous twenty years, and the agio on gold had fallen 

 to 8%. On the i8th of December the Government presented the budget for 1911-12, 

 showing a total revenue of 16,800,000, and a reduction in the deficit to 435,000. The 

 total indebtedness of the nation was returned at 191,000,000 a sum which would, however, 

 be largely increased by the new naval programme. On January 18, 1912' the Budget for 

 1912-13 was presented, showing a deficit increased to 800,000. As there was a doubt 

 about the Government estimates, which included impossible sources of revenue and impos- 

 sible means of retrenchment, a committee was appointed to examine the Budget; and by 

 the following May it had calculated the deficit as at least 1,466,000. On December 7, 1911 

 the Bank of Portugal decided to increase its paper currency by 1,300,000; the reserve of 

 gold to be increased by one-third the value of the notes. 



A decree of January 20, 1911 allowed Queen Maria Pia 5,340 yearly; the balance 

 available from her dowry, 7,555 yearly, was retained for repayment of advances made to 

 her by the state. She died at Stupinigi on July 8 following. A committee appointed to 

 examine into various loans made by the state to the House of Braganza assessed the total 

 (June 18, 1912), at nearly 800,000, of which 720,000 had been advanced to King Carlos, 

 24,500 to the Duke of Oporto and 16,400 to Queen Amelia. The Government decided 

 to reimburse itself from King Manoel's property in Portugal. 



Commerce. In 1910 11,560 vessels of 20,615,388 tons entered at Portuguese ports. The 

 length of railways open was 1,780 m., of which 665 belonged to the state. The exports 

 were valued at 8,073,000; and the imports at 15,581,000. In April 1911 it was decided to 

 form a British Chamber of Commerce in Lisbon. The wine trade the most important 

 branch of foreign commerce has been affected by the disturbances in the North and 

 by shortage oMabour due to emigration. But 1912 will be remembered as a vintage 

 year, the port being exceptionally fine, though the quantity fell below expectations. 



The Navy. On January 19, 1911 a commission appointed to reorganise the navy 

 recommended the immediate acquisition from Great Britain of three battleships of the 

 Dreadnought type, similar to the Minas Geraes of the Brazilian navy. This recommendation 



