PORTUGAL: Excitement In Lisbon

> The new destination for war correspondents this week was Lisbon.Much evidence indicated that Portugal, one of the five remaining neutrals of Europe, was preparing to play an active part in the war, and that her move would be to the Allied cause:

> Lisbon began deadly serious civil-defense exercises, with blackouts and complete mobilization of defense, first aid and salvage forces. The city suddenly took on a military look, with windows criss-crossed with tape, air-raid wardens patrolling the roofs. Some families began moving to the country.

> Portugal’s insignificant army suddenly put on elaborate military maneuvers.

> The Portuguese Legion issued a communique stating that the nation mightabandon neutrality “if dignity and the national interest require it.”

> Said the Diaro de Lisboa: “The present moment is not for panic but for precaution against the repercussion of events.”

> A Lisbon dispatch reported that military material was “constantly appearing on the wharves.” As long ago as 1938, British weapons were being delivered to Portugal.

Old Allegiance, New Policy? Portugal’s entire foreign policy is based on her traditional alliance with Britain. The oldest national friendship in Europe, it runs back in one form or another to 1294. Terms of the alliance bind Britain to aid Portugal, leave Portugal free to pursue benevolent neutrality and make her own decision whether or when she should be come an active war ally in the Atlantic. Japan forcibly occupied Portuguese Timor in the Pacific, and is reported to be exercising illegal military control over the colony of Macao on the China coast. Either fact would be ample reason for war if Portugal feels the time has come to stand up, be counted and get a favorable position on the postwar docket.

A complete Portuguese swing to the Allies would: 1) clean out the Axis spies who have infested Lisbon since the war began, sometimes even getting in the way of United Nations spies; 2) further enclose the Nazis within Occupied Europe; 3) give the Allies, in the Azores, valuable ports and a stationary aircraft carrier in mid-Atlantic for anti-submarine patrol.

For the first three years of the war, Dr. Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, Portugal’s scholarly dictator, had to maintain a correctly meek attitude in the presence of saber-rattling Germany, dagger-rattling Italy, jack-knife-rattling Spain. Now Italy is knocked out, Spain is trying to scramble out from under, Germany’s saber is busy parrying the slashes of Portugal’s potential allies.